Patologia śledziony w praktyce małych zwierząt. Splenomegalia rozlana.

In this article, diffuse splenic enlargement, its etiology and diagnostics are presented and discussed. Often without clinical signs, it may be palpated during an examination, through the abdominal wall in dogs and cats. Diffuse splenomegaly may be caused by neoplastic or non-neoplastic pathological changes. Diffusely enlarged spleen may accompany some neoplasms, like visceral mast cell tumor in cats or high-grade multicentric lymphoma in dogs. Primary splenic lymphomas account for only 10% of lymphomas in dogs, leading in most cases to multiple nodular lesions and only 20% of them manifest as diffuse splenomegaly. Non-neoplastic diffuse splenomegaly may also result from inflammation (splenitis) caused by viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection or from congestion, mainly as an effect of systemic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]