Every organ of the human body has a definite function, size, and shape. Any pathology or abnormality in the organ’s function, shape, or size can adversely affect human health. The spleen is one of the organs that make part of the lymphatic system. It is located in the lower left quadrant of the human body. It is responsible for reprocessing red blood cells, producing antibodies, and recycling the iron in haemoglobin. The spleen is responsible for producing B & T cells, the immune cells that fight against infections. The function of the spleen to fight against infections and bacteria makes it an essential organ for the body’s defence system. In this blog post, we will discuss splenomegaly.
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Splenomegaly
Spleen is about the size of human feet. However, its size changes in response to infection and illness. In general, an adult spleen size is recorded as a weight of 6 ounces, with 5 inches in length, 3 inches in width, and 1.5 inches in thickness. When the spleen becomes enlarged, its average size is referred to as splenomegaly, also known as spleen enlargement or enlarged spleen.
Symptoms
Sometimes patients of splenomegaly are asymptomatic and do not show any sign and symptoms at early stage. However, in some cases following symptoms can occur.
- Inability to eat proper and prominent meal feeling of discomfort.
- Pain in the abdomen that may radiate to the left shoulder.
- Feeling of fullness because the spleen is pressing on the abdomen.
- Fatigue, weight loss, anaemia and jaundice.
Causes:
Infections, cirrhosis, other liver disorders, blood diseases defined by abnormal blood cells, lymph system abnormalities, and other ailments can all produce an enlarged spleen.
Factors That Contribute Include:
- Mononucleosis and other viral diseases.
- Bacterial infections, such as syphilis or a condition of the inner lining of your heart (endocarditis).
- Malaria and other parasitic illnesses.
- Cirrhosis, as well as other liver illnesses.
- Several forms of haemolytic anaemia are defined by the premature destruction of red blood cells.
- Blood cancers such as leukaemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms, as well as lymphomas like Hodgkin’s disease.
- Gaucher’s disease and Niemann-Pick disease are examples of metabolic illnesses.
- Pressure on the splenic or hepatic veins or a blood clot in these veins.
- Lupus and sarcoidosis are examples of autoimmune diseases.
Ultrasound is a widely used, non-invasive, and effective diagnosis method for recognizing splenomegaly and associated splenic disorders. Ultrasonography can generally correctly estimate the overall length of the spleen along a centre line (axis). It can also assess the spleen’s thickness and height, which can tell the physician whether the organ is disproportionately large or small. Private ultrasound scan London provides high-quality ultrasound services for patients to diagnose their conditions. It’s important to timely recognize and get proper diagnosis and treatment for splenomegaly. Contact Private Clinic London now for booking your appointment.