Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen beyond its normal size.

Spleen enlargement; Enlarged spleen

The spleen is an organ that is a part of the lymph system. It filters the blood and maintains healthy red and white blood cells and platelets.

Because of its wide variety of functions, the spleen may be affected by many conditions involving the blood or lymph system, and by infection, malignancies, liver disease, and parasites.

Symptoms of splenomegaly include:

• Inability to eat a large meal
• Pain on the upper left side of the abdomen
• Hiccups

• Infections
  • Bacterial infections
  • Cat scratch disease
  • Infectious mononucleosis (EBV or CMV)
  • Other viral infections
  • Parasitic infections
• Diseases involving the liver
  • Biliary atresia
  • Cirrhosis (alcoholic cirrhosis, portal vein obstruction, portal hypertension)
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Sclerosing cholangitis
• Hemolytic anemias
  • Hemoglobinopathies
  • Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency
  • Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Immune hemolytic anemia
  • Thalassemia
• Cancer
  • Hodgkin's disease
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
• Other causes
  • Felty syndrome
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Sickle cell splenic crisis

Armitage J. Approach to the patient with lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 174.