organomegaly

[applicant2002]

i jsut curious about something about spleenomegaly and organomegaly.

everytime there is a picture in books that shows people with splenomegaly, I always see lines over the skin. Is this because the doctors mark the organ's boundaries, or is it because this causes marks on the skin like striae in pregnancy? I would think the latter, but the marks are always distinct so I wonder if it is the former?

can anyone shed light on this?

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[Dr JPH]

I have seen some docs mark the outline of a spleen or liver with a sharpie after they percuss the edges.

Probably MDs who cant palpate very well ( 😉 ) uh oh...


I doubt that splenomegaly would cause striae to the extent that cushings does, but I suppose anything is possible if it gets big enough. But more likely it has room to grow in the abdominal cavity. I've heard of people percussing spleens all the way down to the iliac crest.

 

[applicant2002]

Thanks for your insight.
I should have posted this link in the original post, but this is an example of what I'm referring to:
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2156.htm
(You have to go all the way down in the article, and then, there's a bunch of pictures, it's Figure 3)

 

[DrMom]

Those are drawn in.

 

[applicant2002]

Thanks DrMom

I feel honored...my first post to get a reply from DrMom 😀

 

[DrQuinn]

Thanks DrMom

I feel honored...my first post to get a reply from DrMom 😀

post a terms of service violation in the lounge and you'll get a quick slap on teh write from DrMom (I remember my first fondly).

Q, DO