Enlarged spleen

The spleen, located in the upper left part of the abdomen, enlarges, assessed by palpation or imaging methods, by measuring its length. Physicians consider an average spleen enlargement when the length ranges between 11 and 20 cm, and severe enlargement when it exceeds 20 cm. An enlarged spleen can cause pain in the upper left part of the abdomen and may lead to pain or discomfort during deep inhalation. The spleen breaks down old red blood cells, and its enlargement often intensifies these functions, frequently resulting in anemia.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology