ENLmedical.com: Conditions And Concerns: Medical Encyclopedia

Hepatomegaly

Considerations:
The lower edge of the liver normally comes just to the lower edge of the ribs (costal margin) on the right side. In its normal state the edge of the liver is thin and firm, and it cannot be palpated (felt with the finger tips) below the edge of the costal margin. If the liver becomes enlarged enough that it can be palpated below the costal margin, the patient is said to have hepatomegaly.

The liver is involved in a multitude of bodily functions and is affected by a variety of conditions, many of which result in hepatomegaly. General classes of causes include infection (viral and bacterial), parasites, malignancy (tumors), anemias , toxic states, storage diseases, heart failure , congenital heart disease , and metabolic disturbances.

Common Causes:

Note: There may be other causes of hepatomegaly. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for hepatomegaly, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Home Care:
Contact your health care provider.

Call Your Healthcare Provider If:
(This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider, and the affected individual may or may not have been aware of its presence.)

What to Expect:
The medical history will be obtained. This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider during a physical examination .

Medical history questions documenting hepatomegaly in detail include:

time pattern
- When did you notice a lump in the abdomen?
quality
- How much is the liver enlarged?
other
- What other symptoms are also present?
- Is there any abdominal pain ?
- Is there any jaundice ?
- Is there any vomiting ?
- Is there any unusual-colored or pale-colored stools ?

Diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the hepatomegaly vary depending on the suspected cause, but may include:

abdominal film
CT scan of the abdomen
liver function tests , including blood clotting profiles
other tests for suspected causes

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to hepatomegaly to your personal medical record.

A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing a fatty liver (steatosis of the liver). Note the liver enlargement.

A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing disproportional steatosis (fattening) of the liver.