Overview
What are the functions of the spleen?
What is the primary etiologies of splenomegaly?
What are less common etiologies of splenomegaly?
What causes inflammatory splenomegaly?
What causes hyperplastic splenomegaly?
What causes congestive splenomegaly?
What causes infiltrative splenomegaly?
What causes infectious splenomegaly?
What is acute splenic sequestration crisis (ASSC)?
What is the prevalence of splenomegaly?
Which patient groups are at highest risk for splenomegaly?
What is the prognosis of splenomegaly?
What are the morbidity and mortality of splenomegaly?
What should be included in patient education of splenomegaly?
Presentation
What are the signs and symptoms of splenomegaly?
What should be included in the physical exam for splenomegaly?
Which physical findings are characteristic of extreme splenomegaly?
Which physical findings may suggest the etiology of splenomegaly?
DDX
How is a finding of fever used in the diagnosis of splenomegaly etiology?
Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of massive splenomegaly?
Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of mild to moderate splenomegaly?
How is the etiology of splenomegaly diagnosed?
How is a finding of anemia used in the diagnosis of splenomegaly etiology?
What are the differential diagnoses for Splenomegaly?
Workup
What is a clinical diagnosis of splenomegaly confirmed?
What is the role of imaging studies in the workup of splenomegaly?
What is the role of complete blood count (CBC) in the workup of splenomegaly?
How is hypersplenism diagnosed in splenomegaly?
What causes anemia in patients with splenomegaly?
How is neutropenia diagnosed in splenomegaly?
What causes thrombocytopenia in patients with splenomegaly?
What do histologic findings reveal in the workup of splenomegaly?
Which lab studies are performed in the workup of splenomegaly?
When is pathologic evaluation indicated in the diagnosis of splenomegaly?
What is the role of splenectomy in the diagnosis and management of splenomegaly?
What are the risks of splenic biopsy for the diagnosis of splenomegaly?
What is the role of CT scanning in the workup of splenomegaly?
What is the role of a liver-spleen colloid scan in the workup of splenomegaly?
Treatment
What are the benefits of medical treatment for splenomegaly?
What are the indications for splenectomy in the treatment of splenomegaly?
How is splenic sequestration treated in splenomegaly?
How is thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) treated in splenomegaly?
What is the role of low-dose radiotherapy in the treatment of splenomegaly?
When is inpatient care indicated for the management of splenomegaly?
What are the outpatient treatment options for splenomegaly?
When is transfer to a tertiary facility indicated in the treatment of splenomegaly?
When is consultation with a hematologist indicated for the treatment of splenomegaly?
Which activity restrictions are advised following splenectomy?
Which activity restrictions are advised for untreated splenomegaly?
What is the role of chemotherapy and antibiotics in the treatment of splenomegaly?
What is the role of immunosuppression in the treatment of splenomegaly?
What is the role of eliglustat in the treatment of splenomegaly?
What are the benefits of laparoscopy in the treatment of splenomegaly?
How is thrombocytosis managed following splenectomy for splenomegaly?
What is an indication of malaria recurrence in splenomegaly?
Why are patients at risk for postsplenectomy infection?
What is overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI)?
What is the mortality rate for overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI)?
What are the causative agents of serious infection following splenectomy?
How is overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI) managed?
What is incidence of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI)?
How is overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI) prevented?
What is the role of vaccination in the prevention of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI)?
What is the role of preprocedure prophylaxis following splenectomy?
Medications
What are the goals of drug treatment for splenomegaly?
Which medications are used to treat overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI)?
Which medications in the drug class Antibiotics, Other are used in the treatment of Splenomegaly?
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This patient has a splenic abscess due to pneumococcal bacteremia. Note that the massively enlarged spleen is readily visible, with minimal retraction in the left upper quadrant.
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Resected specimen from the patient in the previous image. Note the discrete abscesses adjacent to normal parenchyma.
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The margins of this massive spleen were palpated easily preoperatively. Medially, the 3.18 kg (7 lb) spleen crosses the midline. Inferiorly, it extends into the pelvis.
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Massive splenomegaly does not preclude splenectomy through a minimally invasive approach. This photograph depicts a fragmented 3.2 kg (7.05 lb) spleen after removal via a hand-assisted laparoscopic technique.
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A portion of a massive spleen is extracted via hand-assisted laparoscopy.
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Intraoperative photograph of a laparoscopic splenectomy being taken down using the hanging-pedicle technique. The tip of the spleen is visualized in the background, whereas the stapler is detailed in the foreground across a segment of the pedicle.
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A massive spleen that was removed from an elderly woman with lymphoma.