What Causes an Enlarged Spleen

The spleen is a small organ located on the left side of the abdomen, right under your rib cage. Even though it is just the size of your fist, it is involved in some crucial functions of the human body, such as blood and platelets storing and prevention of infections.

Other than being one of the most important organs, the spleen is also one of the most vulnerable organs of the human anatomy, such that it can be damaged as a result of numerous medical conditions.

Of various problems this organ is likely to face, the most common is splenomegaly, a medical condition typically characterized by enlargement of the spleen. It is more of a symptom than a disorder in itself. While a normal spleen cannot be felt by bare hands, an enlarged spleen will be easily felt by touching the abdominal region right beneath the rib cage.

Though it is just a symptom of some underlying disorder, it can result in obvious implications on the body, ranging from pain in the left upper abdomen and shoulder to anemia and severe fatigue.

A number of diseases and disorders can affect various spleen functions and cause it to swell. The causes of enlarged liver and spleen can be broadly categorized into various groups, including the wide range of infections as well as some cancerous diseases and anemia.

Those infections that have the tendency to cause spleen enlargement are further categorized into viral infections (mononucleosis), parasitic infections (malaria), and bacterial infections (syphilis). Basically, the swelling of spleen as a result of some underlying infection occurs in response to defense mechanism of the body to fight that infection.

Similarly, certain types of cancers, including leukemia and Hodgkin's disease, are also known to trigger spleen problems in individuals. At the same time, any other type of cancer which spreads to the spleen can damage it and cause it to swell.

Premature destruction of red blood cells as a result of anemia is also known to result in swollen spleen. There also exist some metabolic disorders, such as the Gaucher's disease, Niemann-Pick disease, and Hurler syndrome, which are known to cause it to enlarge.

Obstruction of blood flow as a result of any pressure on the splenic vein can cause this organ to swell. In a person suffering from congestive heart failure, the pressure on the vein increases and this, in turn, results in enlarged spleen and liver.

Some inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and sarcoidosis, also have the tendency to cause the spleen to swell. Lastly, high impact injury around the left rib cage, i.e., the spleen location, can also trigger various spleen disorders in the person and cause his liver to swell.

The treatment of this condition depends on the underlying cause of the problem. While spleen enlargement attributed to infectious diseases can be treated by antibiotics, the same attributed to some type of cancer will have to be treated by methods like chemotherapy.

When it comes to spleen disorders, another popular method is splenectomy, i.e., surgical removal of the spleen. That, however, is considered the last resort, when the damage caused to this organ is irreversible. Even though an individual can survive without a spleen for the entire life, it does make him more susceptible to several other medical conditions.