Enlarged liver

Enlarged liver is one that's bigger than normal. The liver is a large, football-shaped organ found in the upper right portion of your abdomen. The medical term for enlarged liver is hepatomegaly.
Enlarged liver isn't a disease. It's a sign of an underlying problem, such as liver disease, congestive heart failure or cancer.

Treatment for enlarged liver involves identifying and controlling the underlying cause of the condition.

SYMPTOMS
An enlarged liver may not cause any symptoms.
When enlarged liver occurs because of liver disease, it may be accompanied by:

Abdominal painFatigueNausea and vomitingYellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any symptoms that worry you.

CAUSES
Many diseases and conditions can cause an enlarged liver, including:

Liver diseases

CirrhosisHepatitis caused by a virus — including hepatitis A, B and C — or caused by infectious mononucleosisNonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseAlcoholic fatty liver diseaseA disorder that causes abnormal protein to accumulate in your liver (amyloidosis) A disorder that causes copper to accumulate in your liver (Wilson's disease)A disorder that causes iron to accumulate in your liver (hemachromatosis)A disorder that causes fatty substances to accumulate in your liver (Gaucher's disease)Fluid-filled pockets in the liver (liver cysts)Noncancerous liver tumors, including hemangioma and adenomaObstruction of the gallbladder or bile ductsToxic hepatitis

Cancers

Cancer that begins in another part of the body and spreads to the liverLeukemiaLiver cancerLymphoma

Heart and blood vessel problems

Blockage of the veins that drain the liver (Budd-Chiari syndrome) Heart failureInflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart (pericarditis)

COMPLICATIONS
An enlarged liver is one that's bigger than normal. The liver is a large, football-shaped organ found in the upper right portion of your abdomen. The medical term for enlarged liver is hepatomegaly (hep-uh-to-MEG-uh-le).

Enlarged liver isn't a disease. It's a sign of an underlying problem, such as liver disease, congestive heart failure or cancer.

Treatment for enlarged liver involves identifying and controlling the underlying cause of the condition.

DIAGNOSIS
Your doctor may determine your liver is enlarged by feeling your abdomen during a physical exam. The doctor can estimate the size of your liver by feeling how far it extends below your rib cage. Your doctor may also note the texture of your liver. Depending on the underlying cause, an enlarged liver may feel soft, firm or irregular. Sometimes lumps are present as well.

Additional procedures

Once your doctor determines that you have an enlarged liver, other tests and procedures may be recommended to learn the cause. They may include:

Blood tests. A blood sample is tested to determine liver enzyme levels. This can give clues about the health of your liver. Blood tests can also identify viruses that can cause enlarged liver, such as the hepatitis viruses.Imaging tests. Imaging tests include computerized tomography (CT) scan, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Magnetic resonance elastography uses sound waves to create a visual map (elastogram) of the stiffness of liver tissue. This new test is noninvasive and can be an alternative to a liver biopsy. Magnetic resonance elastography is currently offered at relatively few medical centers, but it's expected to be available at most major medical centers soon. Removing a sample of liver tissue for testing (liver biopsy). Your doctor may recommend a biopsy to collect a sample of liver tissue for laboratory testing. A liver biopsy is often done using a long, thin needle that's inserted through your skin and into your liver. The needle draws out a core of tissue that is then sent to a laboratory for testing.

TREATMENT
Treatment for enlarged liver involves diagnosing and treating the underlying condition that's causing it.