Is an enlarged spleen serious?

It’s important to seek treatment for the cause of your enlarged spleen. Left untreated, an enlarged spleen can lead to serious complications. In most cases, treatment of the underlying cause of the enlarged spleen can prevent removal of the spleen.

What does it mean if you have an enlarged spleen?

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.

Which infectious illness is often associated with an enlarged spleen?

Infections, such as mononucleosis, are among the most common causes of splenomegaly. Problems with your liver, such as cirrhosisand cystic fibrosis, can also cause an enlarged spleen. Another possible cause of splenomegaly is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This condition can cause inflammation of the lymph system.

Can thyroid affect spleen?

Histological and immunohistochemical results showed that the spleen and diaphragm metastases derived from thyroid follicular carcinoma. Radioiodine uptake by the pulmonary metastases confirmed the thyroid source.

What cancers cause an 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. Pressure on the veins in the spleen or liver or a blood clot in these veins. Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or sarcoidosis.

How long does it take to recover from spleen surgery?

Recovering from surgery takes 4 to 8 weeks. You may have some of these symptoms as you recover: Pain around the incision for a few weeks. This pain should lessen over time.

What are symptoms of spleen problems?

Symptoms

• Pain or fullness in the left upper belly that can spread to the left shoulder.
• A feeling of fullness without eating or after eating a small amount because the spleen is pressing on your stomach.
• Low red blood cells (anemia)
• Frequent infections.
• Bleeding easily.

What does spleen pain feel like?

Spleen pain is usually felt as a pain behind your left ribs. It may be tender when you touch the area. This can be a sign of a damaged, ruptured or enlarged spleen.

What type of doctor specializes in the spleen?

For example, hematologists (doctors who specialize in treating blood disorders), oncologists (cancer specialists), and gastroenterologists (liver and digestive tract specialists) all commonly take care of patients who may have enlarged spleen as a response to another condition.

Can autoimmune disease cause enlarged spleen?

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) get a rare disorder known as Felty’s Syndrome (FS). It causes an enlarged spleen and a very low white blood count. It can be painful and lead to serious infections in some cases.

How do you know if your spleen is not working properly?

Pain or fullness in the left upper belly that can spread to the left shoulder. A feeling of fullness without eating or after eating a small amount because the spleen is pressing on your stomach. Low red blood cells (anemia) Frequent infections.

What blood disorders cause enlarged spleen?

When should I see a doctor about an enlarged spleen?

If you have an enlarged spleen but don’t have any symptoms and the cause can’t be found, your doctor may suggest watchful waiting. You’ll have to see your doctor for reevaluation in six to 12 months or sooner if you develop any symptoms.

What are the potential complications of an enlarged spleen?

Potential complications of an enlarged spleen are: Infection. An enlarged spleen can reduce the number of healthy red blood cells, platelets and white cells in your bloodstream, leading to more frequent infections.

Why would my doctor have to remove my spleen?

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 it mean when your spleen is above your ribs?

Your spleen is an organ located just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen, also known as splenomegaly (spleh-no-MEG-uh-lee).