The normal human spleen measures about 125 millimeters in length, and splenomegaly is an important clinical sign.

There are 2 possibilities to evaluate splenomegaly in the clinical examination: percussion and palpation.

Beneath Traube's space lies the stomach, which produces a tympanic sound on percussion.

Dullness to percussion over Traube's space may indicate splenomegaly, although this can also be a normal finding after a meal or may indicate certain pathologies, e.g. enlarged left lobe of the liver, a fundus mass, a left pleural effusion or a massive pericardial effusion.

A 1993 systematic review by The Rational Clinical Examination found that, as a test for splenomegaly, percussion over Traube's space yields a sensitivity and specificity of 62% and 72%, respectively.