Question 1

can airline pilots fly planes if they have splenomegaly?

Accepted Answer

No: No, splenomegaly by itself does not disqualify an individual but the cause of splenomegaly must be identified. For a list of medical conditions that prevent a person from flying, look at the faa website.

Question 2

why do airline pilots get melanoma more frequently than the general public.  i have a hard time believing it is because they fly to sunny places & tan?

Accepted Answer

Cosmic rays: I do not know that pilots get melanoma more than general public, if they do, it may be due more frequent exposure to cosmic rays at high altitude.

Question 3

are you allowed to be an airline pilot if you're an alcoholic?

Accepted Answer

Probably not allowed: Even if a pilot were to hide his alcoholism and get an airline job, it would be hard for him to work without breaking rules. Pilots' schedules are erratic, so an alcoholic would have to avoid drinking for long stretches of time (hard to do for an alcoholic). He can't have alcohol within 8 hours before flying, can't have alcohol while on duty, can't have alcohol level 0.04 or more if tested, etc...

Question 4

are pterygia common among airline pilots and people living in tropical countries?

Accepted Answer

No and yes: I know of no study showing airline pilots having an increased incidence of pterygia.  They are more common in people from equatorial countries as well as those living in desert and harsh climates.

Question 5

please, can any one tell me how you examination for splenomegaly in huge ascites?

Accepted Answer

Ultrasound: It can be difficult to examine on a physical. There are some techniques such as ballotment where you try to bounce your hand through the fluid. Ultrasound or ct scan are much more accurate for evaluation of the spleen if there is ascites.

Question 6

in adult male with chronic elevation in antiphosphlipid antibodies but no clotting event, is splenomegaly  & fluctuating thromocytopenia common?

Accepted Answer

Thrombocytopenia yes: Thrombocytopenia is not  uncommon and this can be improved by aspirin. The spleen may suggest somthing else and I would recommend an evalution  on this to becertain.Your physician can better  put this into perspective

Question 7

us normal except-"mild heterogeneity to the spleen with borderline splenomegaly.cannot rule out lymphomatous involvement." what does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

Funky spleen: Means that the spleen is slightly enlarged and not uniform-looking but the radiologist cannot say anything else based on that test. Could be many things including (but not exclusively) a lymphoma. Your doctor may need to do additional tests depending on the clinical picture and the reason for which he/she ordered the us to begin with. Talk to him/her about its implications.  Best to you.

Question 8

can splenic marginal zone lymphoma ever present with recurrent, interrmitent splenomegaly, where spleen is large may times, and other times normal?

Accepted Answer

No.: The spleen doesn't fluctuate in size like that, but I have seen the skill of various physicians differ significantly, so that an hour after a colleague feels no splenomegaly, I feel significant splenomegaly.

Question 9

can take a short 2-3 hour flight with splenomegaly secondary to mono?

Accepted Answer

: More information would be needed to answer this question. So, you should ask your doctor who treated your mono and who would know all the details-like how big is the spleen and is it starting to get smaller, how long have you had mono, what other symptoms are you having, etc. Your doctor may need to re-evaluate you before clearing you to go on this flight so give your doctor a call. Best of luck!

Question 10

i had us done. impression was borderline splenomegaly(304cc). the report also stated a prominent column of bertin. causes? should i be concerned?

Accepted Answer

YouCanPassOnThisMass: Quote:"A column of Bertin is the extension of renal cortical tissue which separates the pyramids, &amp; as such are normal structures."So the answer is No. Columns of Bertin are present in approximately 50% of the healthy population.Named after Exupere Joseph Bertin, French anatomist who initially described them in 1744. Some call it a Pseudotumor"because it can be mistaken for a kidney mass,or tumor.

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Doctor answers about:

Can airline pilots fly planes if they have splenomegaly

A member asked:

Can airline pilots fly planes if they have splenomegaly?

A member asked:

Why do airline pilots get melanoma more frequently than the general public. i have a hard time believing it is because they fly to sunny places & tan?

A member asked:

Are you allowed to be an airline pilot if you're an alcoholic?

A member asked:

Are pterygia common among airline pilots and people living in tropical countries?

A member asked:

Please, can any one tell me how you examination for splenomegaly in huge ascites?

A member asked:

In adult male with chronic elevation in antiphosphlipid antibodies but no clotting event, is splenomegaly & fluctuating thromocytopenia common?

A member asked:

Us normal except-"mild heterogeneity to the spleen with borderline splenomegaly.cannot rule out lymphomatous involvement." what does this indicate?

A member asked:

Can splenic marginal zone lymphoma ever present with recurrent, interrmitent splenomegaly, where spleen is large may times, and other times normal?

A member asked:

Can take a short 2-3 hour flight with splenomegaly secondary to mono?

A member asked:

I had us done. impression was borderline splenomegaly(304cc). the report also stated a prominent column of bertin. causes? should i be concerned?

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