Definition

• Enlargement of the spleen
• Occurs by three basic mechanisms:
  • Hyperplasia or hypertrophy due to an increase in demand for splenic function
  • Passive vascular congestion due to portal hypertension
  • Infiltration with malignant cells, lipid- or glycoprotein-laden macrophages, or amyloid
• Hypersplenism is characterized by:
  • Splenomegaly
  • Cytopenia(s)
  • Increased reticulocyte production index
  • Normal or hyperplastic bone marrow

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