Spleen size (pediatric)

The spleen size varies with a child's age.

The three numbers below represent the 10 percentile, median, and 90 percentile for the long axis of the spleen (cm)

• 0-3 months: (3.3, 4.5, 5.8 cm)
• 3-6 months: (4.9, 5.3, 6.4 cm)
• 6-12 months: (5.2, 6.2, 6.8 cm)
• 1-2 years: (5.4, 6.9, 7.5 cm)
• 2-4 years: (6.4, 7.4, 8.6 cm)
• 4-6 years: (6.9, 7.8, 8.8 cm)
• 6-8 years: (7.0, 8.2, 9.6 cm)
• 8-10 years: (7.9, 9.2, 10.5 cm)
• 10-12 years: (8.6, 9.9, 10.9 cm)
• 12-15 years: (8.7, 10.1, 11.4 cm)
• 15-20 years
  • female (9.0, 10.0, 11.7 cm)
  • male (10.1, 11.2, 12.6 cm)

There can be a slight difference in these values between males and females. An enlarged spleen may be due to a number of processes, including:

• infectious disease (e.g. mononucleosis)
• anemias
• tumors
• portal hypertension

A small spleen may also be due to a number of processes, including:

• sickle cell disease