doctors suspect the ambling organ was the result of a progressive disease, known as primary sclerosing cholangitis, that can cause an inflammation of the bile ducts in the liver. this inflammation can lead to scarring, or cirrhosis, that restricts the flow of blood to the area. “much like a clogged pipe, this causes blood to back up, and one of the places it backs up is the spleen,” wester said. “over time, the spleen gets larger trying to accommodate all the extra blood.”
as the ligaments stretch out, the spleen gets a longer leash that allows it to venture out into new, unexplored territory. some people are born with genetic defects, such as weak or missing ligaments, that make this migration more likely. physical trauma and, in rare cases, pregnancy can also lead to less effective ligaments and more moving parts than one wants to see in their abdomen. if the condition goes untreated, splenic infarction — and worse — can result.
“there are blood vessels that travel near the spleen that can become twisted and cut off blood supply to the spleen,” wester said. “this can cause severe pain and even death if untreated.”
because a shifting spleen can also cause inflammation of the pancreas — the organ responsible for digestive enzymes and hormones — treatment usually involves removing the organ altogether. “you can live without an intact spleen, and most patients should get their spleen removed if they have this condition,” wester said.
3 minute read
