What does mildly prominent spleen mean?
An enlarged spleen is not always a sign of a problem. When a spleen becomes enlarged, though, it often means it has been doing its job but has become overactive. For example, sometimes the spleen is overactive in removing and destroying blood cells. This is called hypersplenism.
What is the meaning of prominent spleen?
Overview. Splenomegaly is a condition that occurs when your spleen becomes enlarged. It’s also commonly referred to as enlarged spleen or spleen enlargement. The spleen is a part of your lymphatic system. It helps the immune system by storing white blood cells and helping in the creation of antibodies.
Is mild splenomegaly normal?
Splenomegaly is not always abnormal, and spleen size may not necessarily say much about its function. A normal-sized spleen cannot be palpated (felt) during the physical examination of the abdomen, except in slender people. Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) may be easier to palpate during careful abdominal examination.
Can a CT scan show an enlarged spleen?
An x-ray, ultrasound, CT, or MRI may show the enlarged spleen. You may be given contrast liquid to help the spleen show up better in the pictures.
What are symptoms of spleen problems?
An enlarged spleen
- feeling full very quickly after eating (an enlarged spleen can press on the stomach)
- feeling discomfort or pain behind your left ribs.
- anaemia and fatigue.
- frequent infections.
- easy bleeding.
What cancers cause enlarged spleen?
Blood cancers, such as leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphomas, such as Hodgkin’s disease. Metabolic disorders, such as Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick disease.
What is the treatment for mild splenomegaly?
Your doctor might recommend surgery to remove your spleen (splenectomy) for diagnostic purposes when there’s no identifiable cause for the enlargement. More often, the spleen is removed as treatment. After surgery to remove it, the spleen is examined under a microscope to check for possible lymphoma of the spleen.
What does a CT scan of the spleen show?
A CT scan of the spleen may show whether or not it is enlarged, which is known as splenomegaly. The scan will help determine the size of your spleen and whether it is crowding other organs. A spleen CT scan may identify cysts, diseases, or lesions in the general region.
Why would the spleen be enlarged?
An enlarged spleen is the result of damage or trauma to the spleen from any of several different medical conditions, diseases, or types of physical trauma. Infections, liver problems, blood cancers, and metabolic disorders can all cause your spleen to become enlarged, a condition called splenomegaly.
What causes spleen to enlarge?
But a number of conditions, including liver disease and some cancers, can cause your spleen to become enlarged. Your spleen is an organ that sits just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen.
Why would a spleen be enlarged?
What is the normal size of spleen on CT scan?
– maximal length ( Lmax )—the longest dimension between poles of the spleen in this section, – maximal thickness (Th max )—the widest dimension perpendicular to the long axis of the spleen, – hilum thickness (Th hilum )—dimension measured in central part of the hilum perpendicularly to the long axis of the spleen.
What are the signs of a bad spleen?
Pain in the upper left abdomen
What is the prognosis for spleen cancer?
The prognosis for spleen cancer is dependant on what type of spleen cancer a person has, according to Healthgrades. For instance, most spleen cancers do not start in the spleen and those that do may be either lymphomas or leukemia. Some lymphomas or types of leukemia grow fairly slowly. One type of cancer that can affect the spleen, follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma, divides prognosis into three groups: low risk, intermediate risk and high risk, explains American Cancer Society.
What are the symptoms of an injured spleen?
Symptoms . In a trauma patient with an injury to the abdomen, the most common symptoms of a ruptured spleen are pain and tenderness of the abdomen, particularly on the left upper quadrant. As blood enters the abdominal cavity, it can lead to a symptom known as referred pain.