The spleen normally lies along the long axis of the 10th rib. Its lower pole extends forward as far as the midaxillary line.
Causes of splenomegaly include:
- Haematological
- Lymphoma
- Polycythaemia vera
- Leukaemias, especially CML
- Myelofibrosis
- Haemolytic conditions
- Thalassemia
- Haemoglobinopathies
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Infection
- Tuberculosis
- Malaria
- Leishmaniasis
- Schistosomiasis
- Mycobacterium avium complex
- Endocarditis
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Autoimmune
- Splenomegaly of portal hypertension
- Liver cirrhosis
- Hepatic and splenic vein obstructions
- Other
- Gaucher’s disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Congestive cardiac failure
Diseases in which splenomegaly if present is most likely to be massive are:
However, the commonest cause of massive splenomegaly in a large study in America was chronic liver disease.
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