Organomegaly
Pronunciation: or-gan-oh-MEG-ah-lee
Abnormal enlargement of one or more organs, documented in pediatric pathology using age- and weight-adjusted reference ranges.
Full Definition
In pediatric and fetal pathology, organomegaly is diagnosed by comparing measured organ weights to established gestational-age or postnatal-age nomograms rather than adult reference ranges. The term is typically qualified by the specific organ affected—hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, cardiomegaly—though the umbrella term appears in syndrome descriptions such as Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome, where multiorgan enlargement is a defining feature. Accurate documentation requires recording the actual organ weight alongside the expected range for the child's age and, where relevant, body weight. Editors should ensure that the nomogram source cited in a report is age-appropriate and published.
Usage
Usage note: In pediatric pathology reports, 'organomegaly' should always be substantiated by organ weight data referenced against an age-appropriate nomogram; narrative description alone is insufficient.
In Context
- "Post-mortem examination revealed hepatosplenomegaly; both organ weights exceeded the 97th percentile for gestational age." — Fetal autopsy report
- "The clinical summary described organomegaly without specifying which organs were affected, requiring editorial clarification." — Clinical case report manuscript