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Suggest Remedies For Enlarged Spleen
Question: Hello. About 2 years ago, during a routine doctor visit, labs showed my hemoglobin and platelets to be low (hbg around 10.5 and plt around 120). About 6 months later, my hemoglobin dropped to around 8.6 and platelets dropped to aound 80 and have stayed there for the last 15 months. I have had a bone marrow biopsy which showed no issues. Later it was discovered that my spleen was enlarged to 20 cm with a lesion/mass of I think 9 cm. A PET scan showed hotspots in the spleen and a few lymph nodes in the neck (suv for spleen around 2.6, suv for lymph nodes around 4). Lymph nodes were removed and results showed benign and consistant with being reactive. My Liver enzymes are normal, BUN and SCr are normal. My LDH is norml and has always been. Haptoglobin have been normal or high while reticulocytes are high (3.31). IgA, IgG and IgM are normal.
Hep B and Hep C antibody are non reactive. ANA and RA qualitative are negativeI My doctor now is recommending removal of the spleen. I am 43 yo and male
Is this a good option.
Thanks
Hep B and Hep C antibody are non reactive. ANA and RA qualitative are negativeI My doctor now is recommending removal of the spleen. I am 43 yo and male
Is this a good option.
Thanks
Brief Answer:
may not be required unless you have too much weakness
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
The enlarged spleen is cause of your low hemoglobin and platelets. What I am not sure is why it is enlarged. There are hot spots in spleen. What is your doc thinking about those?
Splenectomy will improve the hemoglobin and platelets and will give the final diagnosis. But on the downside, it will cause increased susceptibility to infections. Your hemoglobin and platelets are stable. Platelets are well above safe limit. So unless you are too weak because of anemia, splenectomy may be deferred. Just for diagnosis sake, there is no pressing need to do it.
Hope this helps.
Regards
may not be required unless you have too much weakness
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
The enlarged spleen is cause of your low hemoglobin and platelets. What I am not sure is why it is enlarged. There are hot spots in spleen. What is your doc thinking about those?
Splenectomy will improve the hemoglobin and platelets and will give the final diagnosis. But on the downside, it will cause increased susceptibility to infections. Your hemoglobin and platelets are stable. Platelets are well above safe limit. So unless you are too weak because of anemia, splenectomy may be deferred. Just for diagnosis sake, there is no pressing need to do it.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you for your reply. I am tired all the time but not really weak. my doctor wants to remove the spleen to get diagnosis since biopsy of spleen is not considered safe. They have been testing for a diagnosis for 2 years. They ruled out MDS and rheumatoid. The lesion may or may not be cancer but it is a hotspot on a pet scan.
thanks
thanks
Brief Answer:
will reduce the tiredness
Detailed Answer:
As you are tired all the time, splenectomy is justified. It will improve the hemoglobin and reduce tiredness. The diagnosis will also be established with this.
will reduce the tiredness
Detailed Answer:
As you are tired all the time, splenectomy is justified. It will improve the hemoglobin and reduce tiredness. The diagnosis will also be established with this.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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