10 Potential Causes And Risk Factors For An Enlarged Spleen

Lisette Marie

5. Gaucher's Disease

Doctor discussing the disease with father at hospital. Photo Credit: Envato @Pressmaster

Type 1 Gaucher's disease is the kind responsible for an enlarged spleen. Fortunately, it is a rare disease that only affects about six thousand individuals in the United States. It occurs when an individual inherits a mutated gene from both parents. The Type 1 form of the disease is the most common. Besides having an enlarged spleen, Gaucher's disease patients bruise and bleed easily because they have an abnormally low amount of blood platelets, which are small bodies that form blood clots at the site of an injury. The blood supply to the bones of Gaucher's disease patients is insufficient, which leads to pain, deformity, weakening and degeneration in their bones. This makes them more at risk of fractures.

6. Lymphoma: The Spleen's Cancerous Swelling

Thyroid model with pill drug treatment, Hyperthyroidism, Overactive or Lymphoma. Photo Credit: Envato @chormail

Beyond general blood clots, lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphatic system – is a significant and often insidious cause of an enlarged spleen. The spleen is rich in lymphatic tissue, making it a common site for lymphoma cells to accumulate and proliferate. This growth can lead to palpable enlargement, which might be the first, albeit subtle, sign of the cancer. Unlike some other causes, the spleen may be enlarged due to direct cancerous infiltration rather than just increased workload, making it a critical warning sign demanding immediate oncological investigation.

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5. Gaucher's Disease

6. Lymphoma: The Spleen's Cancerous Swelling

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