Splenomegaly

Abstract

Composed of reticuloendothelial tissue, the spleen functions in the clearance of cellular elements from the circulatory system. It also is an important site of hematopoiesis in the event that bone marrow cannot perform this function. In normal adults the spleen is the most important site of erythrocyte sequestration. The spleen may become enlarged as a result of an increased number of abnormal cells presented to it (primary hypersplenism). Alternatively, the spleen may become enlarged secondary to intrinsic splenic diseases or abnormal vascular drainage (secondary hypersplenism). Examples are shown in Table 1.