In leukemia, which organs commonly enlarge?

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Multiple Choice

In leukemia, which organs commonly enlarge?

Leukemia commonly causes enlargement of organs involved in filtering blood and producing blood cells outside the marrow. The liver and spleen are the most affected because leukemic cells infiltrate them and because extramedullary hematopoiesis ramps up outside the bone marrow. This leads to hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, which you’ll often notice as abdominal fullness or discomfort. The other options aren’t typical primary sites of enlargement in leukemia. The heart and lungs aren’t usually enlarged due to leukemia itself, though anemia or infections can affect their function. The kidneys and pancreas, or the stomach and intestines, aren’t common sites of leukemic infiltration or extramedullary hematopoiesis, so they don’t typically enlarge in this condition.

Leukemia commonly causes enlargement of organs involved in filtering blood and producing blood cells outside the marrow. The liver and spleen are the most affected because leukemic cells infiltrate them and because extramedullary hematopoiesis ramps up outside the bone marrow. This leads to hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, which you’ll often notice as abdominal fullness or discomfort.

The other options aren’t typical primary sites of enlargement in leukemia. The heart and lungs aren’t usually enlarged due to leukemia itself, though anemia or infections can affect their function. The kidneys and pancreas, or the stomach and intestines, aren’t common sites of leukemic infiltration or extramedullary hematopoiesis, so they don’t typically enlarge in this condition.

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