Enlarged liver
Key points
- Hepatomegaly is the enlargement of the liver beyond its normal size.
- The lower edge of the liver normally comes just to the lower edge of the ribs (costal margin) on the right side.
- This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider, and the affected individual may or may not have been aware of its presence.
- This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider during a physical examination.
Alternative names
Hepatosplenomegaly; Hepatomegaly; Liver enlargement
Definition
Hepatomegaly is the enlargement of the liver beyond its normal size. Hepatosplenomegaly is enlargement of both the liver and the spleen - see splenomegaly.
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 may have hepatomegaly. The diagnosis must be confirmed by an imaging study of the liver.
The liver is involved in many bodily functions, and is affected by a variety of conditions, many of which result in hepatomegaly. General causes include infection (viral, bacterial, or parasitic), malignancy (cancer or tumors), anemias, storage diseases, Heart failure, congenital heart disease, toxins, and metabolic disturbances.
Common Causes
- Alcohol
- Tumor metastases
- Neuroblastoma
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Niemann-Pick disease
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
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