Home > D. General pathology > Blood and immunity > Spleen > splenomegaly
splenomegaly
Tuesday 12 December 2006
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Definition: Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen. The spleen usually lies in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) of the human abdomen.
Images
Massive splenomegaly (4.1 kg) in a patient with primitive myelofibrosis (PMF). Classic intrasinusoidal EMH & atypical megakaryocytic proliferation.
Etiology
Increased function
removal of defective RBCs
immune hyperplasia
- response to infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic)
- disordered immunoregulation / dysimmune diseases
extramedullary hematopoiesis
Abnormal blood flow
cirrhosis
vascular anomalies
hepatic infections
Metabolic diseases
Benign and malignant cellualr infiltrations
See also
spleen
