Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, he or she will proceed to perform a physical examination that will include exhaustive palpation of the abdominal area. If the spleen feels enlarged, they will request a series of tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as blood tests, computed tomography, and MRI.
In addition to the diagnosis of splenomegaly, it will be necessary to identify its direct cause, so tests such as bone marrow biopsy and liver function tests, among others, will be performed.
The treatment plan will focus on attacking the origin of the condition and preventing possible complications. Once the cause is solved, the spleen can sometimes return to its normal size on its own, but if the enlargement is due to a serious illness, it may not, so if your symptoms are severe or there is a risk of rupture, the most advisable thing is to perform a splenectomy or surgical removal of the spleen.
Although it may be a suitable option for severe or chronic cases, splenectomy has several potential risks, such as a predisposition to serious infections that can be fatal.
To avoid post-surgical infections, you will need to be vaccinated against pneumococcus, influenza, and meningococcus, in addition to taking preventive treatments with antibiotics and maintaining medical surveillance to solve any signs of infection.
At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.
