How big is a normal spleen. What factors influence spleen size. How does the spleen change throughout life. What are the main functions of the spleen. When should you be concerned about spleen size.

The Spleen: Your Body’s Vital Blood Filtering Organ

The spleen is a small but crucial organ located behind the stomach and under the diaphragm. Its primary function is to filter blood, removing old, damaged, or abnormal red blood cells. This organ plays a significant role in supporting the immune system by filtering out certain bacteria and viruses from the bloodstream.

In response to infections, the spleen, along with lymph nodes, produces lymphocytes – a type of white blood cell that creates antibodies to combat invading pathogens. This unique ability makes the spleen an essential component of the body’s defense mechanism against various diseases.

Normal Spleen Size: Variations and Influencing Factors

The size of a healthy spleen can vary considerably from person to person. Several factors influence spleen size, including:

• Gender
• Height
• Weight
• Age

On average, an adult spleen measures approximately:

• 5 inches long
• 3 inches wide
• 1.5 inches thick
• Weighs about 6 ounces

Interestingly, women tend to have smaller spleens compared to men. This difference may be attributed not only to men generally being taller but also to their typically greater red cell mass, as suggested by a study published in the journal Radiology.

Spleen Size Throughout Life: From Childhood to Adulthood

The spleen, like other organs in the body, grows with age. However, once adulthood is reached, the spleen tends to shrink slightly with each passing decade. Understanding the normal range of spleen sizes at different ages is crucial for healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose potential issues.

A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology provided insights into the upper limit of normal spleen length by age up to 15 years. Interestingly, there is relatively little difference in size between boys and girls. Here’s a breakdown of the average spleen length by age:

• Newborn: 4.5 cm
• 3 months: 6 cm
• 6 months: 6.5 cm
• 12 months: 7 cm
• 2-4 years: 8 cm
• 4-6 years: 9 cm
• 6-8 years: 10 cm
• 8-10 years: 11 cm
• 10-12 years: 11.5 cm
• 12-15 years: 12 cm

Diagnosing Spleen Abnormalities: Medical Examination and Testing

When it comes to assessing spleen health, healthcare professionals employ various methods to detect any abnormalities. During a physical examination, a doctor can usually determine if the spleen is enlarged through palpation and percussion techniques.

To further investigate spleen size and function, doctors may order the following tests:

1. Blood tests: These check levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which can help diagnose the cause of spleen enlargement.
2. Imaging tests: Ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI can provide detailed images of the spleen and surrounding organs.

Abdominal ultrasound is often the preferred method for evaluating the spleen due to its non-invasive nature and absence of radiation exposure. This technique uses sound waves to create images of the body’s interior on a computer screen.

Benefits of Abdominal Ultrasound in Spleen Evaluation

An abdominal ultrasound can accurately measure the length, width, and thickness of the spleen along its central axis. This information helps doctors determine whether the organ is abnormally large or small. Additionally, ultrasound can detect other abdominal conditions, such as:

• Abnormal liver function
• Kidney stones
• Gallstones
• Enlargement of other organs (e.g., liver or gallbladder)
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Tumors or suspicious growths in the abdominal area

Understanding Spleen Enlargement: Causes and Implications

Spleen enlargement, also known as splenomegaly, can occur due to various factors. Some common causes include:

• Viral infections (e.g., mononucleosis)
• Bacterial infections (e.g., syphilis)
• Blood disorders
• Liver diseases
• Certain cancers

An enlarged spleen may not always cause noticeable symptoms. However, in some cases, individuals may experience:

• Pain or discomfort in the upper left abdomen
• Feeling full without eating or after eating small amounts
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Frequent infections

Is spleen enlargement always a cause for concern?

Slight variances in spleen size are common and generally not a cause for alarm. However, if you suspect your spleen is enlarged or experience any organ-related problems, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause can prevent complications and promote a faster recovery.

Treatment Options for Enlarged Spleen

The treatment for an enlarged spleen typically focuses on addressing the underlying cause. In many cases, treating the primary condition will result in the spleen returning to its normal size. Some common treatment approaches include:

1. Antibiotics for bacterial infections
2. Antiviral medications for viral infections
3. Targeted therapies for blood disorders or cancers
4. Lifestyle modifications and medications for liver diseases

In severe cases where the spleen is significantly enlarged or dysfunctional, surgical removal (splenectomy) may be necessary. While living without a spleen is possible, it does increase the risk of certain infections. Individuals who have undergone splenectomy need to take additional precautions, such as:

• Staying up-to-date with vaccinations
• Practicing thorough hand hygiene
• Avoiding close contact with people who have contagious infections
• Seeking prompt medical attention for any signs of infection

The Spleen’s Role in the Immune System: Beyond Blood Filtration

While the spleen’s primary function is blood filtration, its role in the immune system extends far beyond this task. The spleen serves as a critical hub for immune cell interactions and plays a vital role in defending the body against various pathogens.

How does the spleen contribute to immune function?

The spleen contributes to immune function through several mechanisms:

1. Production of antibodies: The spleen contains a high concentration of B lymphocytes, which produce antibodies to fight specific pathogens.
2. Storage of immune cells: It acts as a reservoir for various immune cells, including T lymphocytes and macrophages, ready to be deployed when needed.
3. Removal of pathogens: The spleen’s unique structure allows it to trap and eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms from the bloodstream.
4. Immune memory: The spleen plays a role in maintaining immunological memory, allowing for faster and more effective responses to previously encountered pathogens.

Understanding the spleen’s multifaceted role in immune function highlights its importance in maintaining overall health and well-being.

Spleen Health: Preventive Measures and Lifestyle Considerations

While there’s no specific regimen for maintaining spleen health, certain lifestyle choices can contribute to overall well-being and potentially support spleen function:

• Maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Staying hydrated to support blood volume and circulation
• Engaging in regular physical activity to promote overall cardiovascular health
• Managing stress through relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices
• Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, which can strain the liver and indirectly affect the spleen
• Practicing safe habits to prevent infections and injuries that could impact the spleen

Can specific foods or supplements benefit spleen health?

While no specific foods or supplements have been scientifically proven to directly benefit spleen health, a well-balanced diet that supports overall immune function may indirectly contribute to spleen well-being. Some nutrient-rich foods that may be beneficial include:

• Leafy green vegetables (e.g., spinach, kale)
• Citrus fruits high in vitamin C
• Lean proteins
• Whole grains
• Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseeds)

It’s important to note that any significant dietary changes or supplement regimens should be discussed with a healthcare professional to ensure they are appropriate for your individual needs and health status.

The Spleen in Traditional Medicine: Historical Perspectives and Modern Insights

The spleen has been recognized as an important organ in various traditional medicine systems for centuries. While modern scientific understanding of the spleen’s functions differs from historical beliefs, exploring these perspectives can provide interesting insights into the organ’s perceived importance throughout history.

How was the spleen viewed in traditional medicine systems?

Different traditional medicine systems had varying views on the spleen’s role:

1. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): In TCM, the spleen is considered part of the Earth element and is believed to play a crucial role in digestion, energy production, and blood regulation.
2. Ayurveda: This ancient Indian healing system associates the spleen with the production of “Rasa” (plasma) and views it as an important organ for maintaining bodily fluids and supporting immunity.
3. Hippocratic medicine: Ancient Greek physicians, including Hippocrates, believed the spleen was responsible for producing “black bile,” one of the four humors thought to influence health and temperament.

While these traditional views may not align with current scientific understanding, they highlight the long-standing recognition of the spleen’s importance in overall health and well-being.

Spleen Research: Current Trends and Future Directions

Ongoing research continues to uncover new aspects of spleen function and its potential role in various health conditions. Some current areas of investigation include:

• The spleen’s role in cardiovascular health
• Potential connections between spleen function and neurodegenerative diseases
• Development of spleen-targeted therapies for immune-related disorders
• Exploration of the spleen’s regenerative capabilities

What promising developments are emerging in spleen-related research?

Recent advancements in spleen research have yielded intriguing findings:

1. Spleen-on-a-chip: Researchers are developing miniature, lab-grown spleen models to study immune responses and test new therapies.
2. Spleen preservation techniques: New methods are being explored to preserve spleen function in cases where removal was previously necessary.
3. Immunotherapy applications: The spleen’s role in immune cell interactions is being leveraged to enhance cancer immunotherapy approaches.
4. Biomarker identification: Studies are investigating spleen-related biomarkers that could aid in early disease detection and monitoring.

These ongoing research efforts promise to deepen our understanding of the spleen’s functions and potentially lead to new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for various health conditions.

Living with Spleen Disorders: Coping Strategies and Support

For individuals diagnosed with spleen disorders or those who have undergone splenectomy, adapting to life with altered spleen function can present unique challenges. However, with proper management and support, many people lead healthy, active lives.

What strategies can help individuals cope with spleen disorders?

Several approaches can assist in managing life with spleen disorders:

1. Education: Learning about your specific condition and its implications can empower you to make informed decisions about your health.
2. Regular medical follow-ups: Maintaining scheduled check-ups with your healthcare provider ensures proper monitoring and timely interventions if needed.
3. Vaccination adherence: For those without a spleen or with compromised spleen function, staying up-to-date with recommended vaccinations is crucial for preventing infections.
4. Lifestyle modifications: Adopting a healthy diet, engaging in appropriate physical activity, and managing stress can support overall well-being.
5. Support groups: Connecting with others who have similar experiences can provide emotional support and practical advice for navigating daily life.

By implementing these strategies and working closely with healthcare professionals, individuals with spleen disorders can effectively manage their condition and maintain a good quality of life.

Normal Spleen Size Depends on Weight and Gender

Overview

Your spleen is a small but hard-working organ hidden behind your stomach and under your diaphragm. It acts as a filter for your blood. Old, damaged, or abnormal red blood cells are caught in a maze of narrow tunnels within the spleen. Healthy red blood cells easily pass through the spleen and continue to circulate in your bloodstream.

The spleen can also filter out certain bacteria or viruses from your blood in support of the body’s immune system. When a disease-causing microorganism enters the bloodstream, your spleen and lymph nodes produce lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell capable of making antibodies to fight infections.

Unlike most other organs in your body, your spleen changes in size throughout your life — usually in response to illness or injury. A viral infection, such as mononucleosis, or a bacterial infection, such as syphilis, are among the conditions that can lead to an enlarged spleen.

The size of a normal, healthy spleen can vary considerably from person to person. Your sex and height can also affect its size. In general, an adult spleen is about 5 inches long, 3 inches wide, 1.5 inches thick, and weighs about 6 ounces.

Women tend to have smaller spleens than men, and taller people tend to have larger spleens than shorter people. In a study in the journal Radiology, researchers suggested that aside from men generally being taller than women, men also typically have greater red cell mass than women.

Your spleen, like the rest of your body, grows with age. Once you reach adulthood, however, your spleen tends to shrink slightly with each passing decade. The following is a list of the upper limit of normal spleen length by age up to 15 years. For boys and girls, there is relatively little difference in size, according to a study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology. The average spleen length by age was up to:

During a physical examination, your doctor can usually tell if your spleen is enlarged. A blood test to check your levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets may also be ordered to help diagnose the cause of a spleen enlargement.

Imaging tests, including ultrasound, help measure the size of your spleen and whether it’s crowding your other organs.

An abdominal ultrasound is often preferred for evaluating the spleen because it’s easy to do and doesn’t require any radiation. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of inside the body on a computer screen. An ultrasound “wand” is rubbed on the outside of the belly, which is coated with a special gel. This gel helps transmit the sound waves through the skin and to the parts inside the body.

Ultrasound can usually measure the length of the spleen along a center line (axis) accurately. It can also measure the width and thickness of the spleen, which can typically tell the doctor whether the organ is abnormally large or small. In most cases, however, the concern is about an enlarged spleen.

An abdominal ultrasound can help detect other conditions, too. Some of them include:

• abnormal liver function
• kidney stones
• gallstones
• enlargement of other organs, such as the liver or gallbladder
• abdominal aortic aneurysm (bulge in the main artery that supplies blood to most of the body)
• tumors or other suspicious growths anywhere in the abdominal area

Slight variances in spleen size are common and not a cause for concern. However, if you suspect your spleen is enlarged or you’re having any organ-related problems, see a doctor soon. If an infection is causing this temporary enlargement of the spleen, the sooner you get it diagnosed and treated, the better.

Treating the underlying cause of your spleen growth will usually cause it to return to a normal, healthy size. In very serious cases of spleen dysfunction, the organ can be removed. You will be at greater risk for infections, but that will only mean it’s even more important to keep up to date with vaccinations and other preventive steps, such as washing your hands thoroughly and regularly or avoiding people who may have a contagious infection.

Enlarged Spleen: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Written by Annie Stuart

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on April 25, 2023

• Causes of an Enlarged Spleen
• Symptoms of an Enlarged Spleen
• Treatments for an Enlarged Spleen

What is the spleen and what causes an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)?

The spleen sits under your rib cage in the upper left part of your abdomen toward your back. It is an organ that is part of the lymph system and works as a drainage network that defends your body against infection.

White blood cells produced in the spleen engulf bacteria, dead tissue, and foreign matter, removing them from the blood as blood passes through it. The spleen also maintains healthy red and white blood cells and platelets; platelets help your blood clot. The spleen filters blood, removing abnormal blood cells from the bloodstream.

The spleen is part of the lymph system and works as a drainage network that defends your body against infection. It is normally about the size of your fist.

A spleen is normally about the size of your fist. A doctor usually can’t feel it during an exam. But diseases can cause it to swell and become many times its normal size. Because the spleen is involved in many functions, many conditions may affect it.

An enlarged spleen is not always a sign of a problem. When a spleen becomes enlarged, though, it often means it has been doing its job but has become overactive. For example, sometimes the spleen is overactive in removing and destroying blood cells. This is called hypersplenism. It can happen for many reasons, including problems with too many platelets and other disorders of the blood.

An enlarged spleen can be caused by infections, cirrhosis and other liver diseases, blood diseases characterized by abnormal blood cells, problems with the lymph system, or other conditions.

Here are some common causes of an enlarged spleen:

Infections

• Viral infections, such as mononucleosis
• Parasitic infections, such as toxoplasmosis
• Bacterial infections, such as endocarditis (an infection of your heart’s valves)

Cancer

• Leukemia, a cancer in which white blood cells displace normal blood cells
• Lymphoma, a cancer of lymph tissue, such as Hodgkin’s disease

Other causes of an enlarged spleen include:

• Inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Trauma, such as an injury during contact sports
• Cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the spleen
• A cyst, a noncancerous fluid-filled sac
• A large abscess, a pus-filled cavity usually caused by a bacterial infection
• Infiltrative diseases such as Gaucher disease, amyloidosis, or glycogen storage diseases

Most people don’t know they have an enlarged spleen because symptoms are rare. People usually find out about it during a physical exam. These are the most common symptoms of an enlarged spleen:

• Being unable to eat a large meal.
• Feeling discomfort, fullness, or pain on the upper left side of the abdomen; this pain may spread to your left shoulder.

If you have pain that is severe or gets worse when taking a deep breath, see your doctor right away.

If you have an enlarged spleen, you may develop other signs or symptoms, too. These are related to the underlying disease. They may include signs and symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Frequent infections
• Easy bleeding
• Jaundice
• Anemia

Your doctor will ask you questions and do a physical exam to diagnose an enlarged, painful spleen. This involves palpating (examining by touch) your spleen. You will also likely need diagnostic tests to confirm the cause of the swollen spleen. These may include blood tests, an ultrasound, or computerized tomography (CT) scan. In some cases, other tests may be needed.

Limit any activities that could rupture your spleen, such as contact sports. A ruptured spleen can cause lots of blood loss and be life threatening. 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. In some cases, the spleen will need to be removed surgically (splenectomy).

If surgery is needed, a surgeon is likely to remove the spleen using laparoscopy rather than open surgery. This means the surgery is performed through small incisions. A laparoscope allows the surgeon to view and remove the spleen.

If your spleen is removed, you cannot effectively clear certain bacteria from your body and will be more vulnerable to certain infections. So vaccines or other medications are needed to prevent infection.

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Spleen enlargement: why it is dangerous

Very often the question is asked, what is the reason for the enlargement of the spleen, what is the danger of such a violation. There are no unnecessary organs in the human body. Each of them has its own important functions. The spleen is needed in order for metabolic processes to occur correctly, it regulates hematopoiesis, cleanses the blood of bacteria, and is responsible for the level of its coagulability. This organ works in close connection with others, so the spleen enlarges when they function incorrectly. The spleen is especially clearly affected by disturbances in the functioning of the liver, its enlargement is one of the symptoms of such a serious disease as cirrhosis. The most common causes of cirrhosis are viral hepatitis B and C, fatty liver disease, and alcoholic liver disease. In these diseases, hepatocytes are replaced by fat cells or connective tissue. Gradually, the liver ceases to perform its functions, which leads to very serious consequences. Therefore, if deviations in the size of the spleen are detected, not only a consultation with a hepatologist is necessary, but also a comprehensive examination, necessarily with the use of liver elastometry.

The normal size of the spleen in adults is:

• length – from 8 to 15 centimeters;
• width – from 6 to 9 centimeters;
• thickness – from 4 to 6 centimeters;
• weight – 140-200 grams.

Symptoms

Having increased, this organ can even reach 500 grams, squeezing neighboring organs and causing pain. Since the spleen is located near the stomach, one of the symptoms of its abnormally large size is a feeling of heaviness in the stomach after eating, which appears even if very little is eaten. Sometimes pains are fixed in the abdomen or behind on the left side, this most likely means that some parts of the spleen are destroyed due to insufficient blood supply to them.

Consequences

If we talk about the dangers of an enlarged spleen for the human body as a whole, it is first of all important to note that the processes of hematopoiesis in the body are disturbed. The enlarged organ gets the opportunity to “capture” more than usual, the number of blood cells. It would seem that this is good, the spleen will better cleanse the blood of diseased cells. But, unfortunately, this is not entirely true. Pathological blood cells, when too many of them are extracted, clog the spleen itself, from which it grows even more, but the blood filters worse and worse. As a result, the body begins to destroy not only pathological, but also healthy blood cells, destroy them. Danger threatens red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells.

In the case of a sharp decrease in the number of red blood cells, a person becomes ill with anemia. The destruction of leukocytes destroys the body’s immune system, a person begins to get sick with infectious diseases very often. A lack of platelets leads to a deterioration in blood clotting, which is also very dangerous.

Treatment of the spleen comes down to eliminating the cause of its enlargement, that is, it is necessary to cure the disease that led to failures. In extreme cases, the organ is removed, but this is highly undesirable, since immunity deteriorates significantly, because the blood is left without its filter, and, consequently, the risk of infectious diseases increases.

Important to know!

• What are the causes of hepatic steatosis?
• What is liver elastography?
• Which doctor should I contact for hepatitis B?
• What is liver fibroscan?

Diseases of the spleen Medical term

– The spleen is a large lymphoid organ. It has an oval, slightly flat shape. The spleen is located in the region of the left hypochondrium, behind the stomach. It is in close proximity to the pancreas, colon, left kidney and slightly in contact with the diaphragm. The size of the spleen reaches 10-14 cm in length, 6-10 cm in width, and the thickness of the spleen is 3-4 cm.

The main part of this unique organ is represented by the so-called white and red pulp. The white pulp is a lymphoid tissue where lymphocytes originate, and the red pulp is mostly filled with erythrocytes. In addition to the important hematopoietic function for the human body, the spleen also produces antibodies, and also detects unnecessary harmful microorganisms and other foreign elements in the blood stream.

Since a certain breakdown of blood cells is constantly observed in the human body, the main function of the spleen is considered to be the necessary restoration of the number of cellular elements in the blood.

The spleen, as well as its adjacent organ, the pancreas, is most active in the morning from about 9 am to 11 am. If symptoms such as weakness in the legs, constant drowsiness during the day, loss of appetite, but at the same time a desire to taste sweets, memory impairment and general exhaustion of the brain are observed, we can talk about problems associated with these organs.

Types of diseases of the spleen

As a rule, primary diseases of the spleen occur quite rarely, much more often it is affected secondarily, more often than it happens with other organs. The following are the main dysfunctional conditions of the spleen that can be diagnosed as a disease.

Congenital malformations . There are cases when a person does not have a spleen from birth. There are also cases when the size of the spleen does not fit into the usual framework, its shape and structure are non-standard. Sometimes additional spleens are determined, there may even be several. If the position of the spleen is poorly fixed due to weak abdominal muscles, it can move in the abdominal cavity; this phenomenon in medicine is called “wandering spleen”, and it occurs more often in women than in men.

Spleen infarction is a phenomenon that occurs quite often, although the area of ​​infarction is usually very small. Leukemia and some other infections contribute to the occurrence of a heart attack.

Torsion of the spleen (or torsion of the pedicle) requires mandatory intervention by the surgeon, as it leads to a serious violation of the blood circulation of this organ.

Abscesses . Causes of abscess of the spleen can be different – it can be spleen infarction or typhoid fever . As a rule, this process proceeds painlessly, which in most cases ends in self-healing.

Cysts . Different types of cysts can be observed in the spleen, however epithelial cysts are extremely rare. But serous cysts are observed more often, but they usually occur, like ruptures, as a result of a person receiving an injury.

Various degenerative irreversible processes . In old age, atrophy of the spleen often occurs.

Tumors . A typical tumor of the spleen is lymphosarcoma . Primary malignant tumors rarely affect the spleen, and metastases to the spleen are even rarer.

Enlargement of the spleen (so-called splenomegaly ). This may be due to various pathological conditions of the human body. With an increase in lymph nodes, with fever or jaundice, with an enlarged liver or severe anemia – in all these cases, splenomegaly . In the case of certain cardiovascular diseases, in infectious diseases – it can be measles, meningitis, scarlet fever, malaria, etc., in blood diseases – leukemia or hemolytic jaundice, an enlarged spleen may also occur.

Since splenomegaly is only a reaction of the body to another disease, it is first necessary to establish what caused this pathological condition of the organ.

Diagnosis of diseases of the spleen

How to diagnose this or that disease of the spleen? There are several medical methods for doing this.

Questioning method. When compiling the necessary anamnesis, it is necessary to pay attention to all chronic infections that the patient has had, and which could lead to an increase in the size of the spleen. Also, serious cardiovascular diseases, blood diseases, dangerous pathological conditions of the liver, etc. cannot be discounted. – if any have ever taken place in the patient’s medical history.

Inspection method. This method is not very effective, since it allows diagnosing an enlarged spleen only in case of its significant change in size to a large side. With such a pathology, the spleen emerges from under the ribs and on the left raises half of the abdominal wall so much that it can be seen by any person even with the naked eye.

Palpation method. This is the main method of examination of the spleen, which must be diagnosed. Palpation is best done with the patient lying on the right side or on the back; to relax the abdominal muscles, it is better to lie with your legs tucked in. With the help of the left hand, which must be placed in the region of 7 – 10 left ribs, it is necessary to fix the sternum in a fixed position. The right hand should lie flat on the stomach, at a right angle to the ribs. In this case, with your fingers in a bent position, you need to slightly press on the abdominal cavity.

When the patient takes a deep breath, the spleen moves towards the palpating hand and is directly under the fingers, so that you can feel the lower edge of the organ well.

As a rule, if you can feel the edge of the lymphoid organ with your fingers, you can assume that there is a pathological increase in its size. Although in practice, in some cases, in people with an excessively thin physique, especially in women, it is possible to determine the edge of a completely healthy spleen.

When carrying out the palpation method, one should focus on the available volumes of the spleen, its consistency, mobility, what kind of edge (serrated or even), how great is the sensitivity, etc.

Method of modern X-ray examination. In the presence of a large amount of gas in the large intestine and stomach, the spleen and its edges are seen much better. For this purpose, when performing X-rays of the spleen, the stomach or large intestine is tried to be artificially inflated.

Spleen puncture method. This method is used when the organ is greatly enlarged. Before making a puncture to the patient, he must take a deep breath and hold his breath. If this important condition is not met, the spleen is displaced to the side, and damage to the capsule can occur and heavy bleeding can begin.

Due to the similar unsafety of this diagnostic method, it is used only in cases of emergency and with extreme caution. The puncture is made with a very thin and sharp needle. As a result of the puncture, a few small drops of blood are obtained. Blood smears obtained from the spleen help determine the nature of the changes that have occurred in it.

Method of laboratory tests and blood tests. With a fairly large increase in the size of the spleen, it is imperative and necessary to conduct a complete blood test.

Prevention of diseases of the spleen

To prevent diseases of the spleen, first of all, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle, not to start infectious diseases, to take the necessary measures to strengthen the immune system – in a word, to monitor the general condition of your body. Particular attention should be paid to protecting the abdomen and chest from various injuries and injuries. The most serious damage is caused to the spleen in the event of a severe bruise, a blow received in a fight or as a result of a serious traffic accident.

It is also necessary to periodically take blood tests and check the state of its indicators, it is also advisable not to forget about the correctness of your diet.