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3. Enlargement of the Spleen and the Liver
Leukemia often impacts the spleen and liver, integral to blood function, by causing an enlargement as it interferes with their metabolic roles. The spleen, responsible for removing aging or redundant red blood cells, becomes activated in response to leukemia, resulting in an increase in size. In certain instances, the enlarged spleen may even be palpable, noticeable near the belly button region.
Enlargement of the liver results from the infiltration of malignant cells into the liver tissue. Instead of increasing the function of the liver, this abnormal infiltration impairs the enzymatic potential of the liver. Thus, patients with leukemia often have increased levels of transaminases along with an enlarged liver that goes beyond the line of the ribcage. Thus, it is important to ask your doctor about your symptoms and perform every blood test and imaging analysis they consider necessary to diagnose your case.
