Splenomegaly - Lesson 52
WHAT IS SPLENOMEGALY MEANS? The spleen is an organ in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen (below the diaphragm and to the side of the stomach). It is composed of lymph tissue and blood vessels. Its job is to dispose of dying red blood cells and manufacture white blood cells (lymphocytes) to fight disease. If the spleen must be removed (splenectomy) other organs carry out these functions. Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen, which usually occurs in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) of the human abdomen. The four most reasons for this condition are hypersplenism, and cytopenia(s), normal or hyperplastic bone marrow, and also may be the response to a splenectomy. Splenomegaly is generally associated with hemolytic anemias, which suggests that it is a response to hyperfunction. Splenomegaly is associated with any disease process that involves abnormal red blood cells being destroyed in the spleen. Other common causes include congestion due to portal hypertens...