Palpable Spleens in College Freshmen

Abstract

In 2.75% of 2,200 entering college students palpable spleens were detected by at least 3 independent examiners. Of the 63 students studied, approximately 30% persisted with this finding for at least 3 years after the initial detection. The finding of a palpable spleen could not be explained on the basis of body habitus or infectious mononucleo-sis. In the first 6 years of study there is no evidence for an increased incidence of disease in the group of students with palpable spleens.