Hepatomegaly is an enlarged liver that can be diagnosed by feeling the patient’s abdominal area. It can be caused by alcohol abuse, fatty liver disease, viral infections, congestive heart failure, hemochromatosis, and cancer. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, and jaundice. Diagnostic tests include radiological tests, liver function tests, and sometimes a liver biopsy.
Hepatomegaly is a condition characterized by the enlargement of the liver to a much larger size than normal. A doctor can usually diagnose it by feeling the patient’s abdominal area. When the liver is normal in size, its lower edge usually does not exceed the bottom of the right rib cage. This lower edge can usually only be felt with the fingertips beyond the bottom of the rib cage when the patient takes a deep breath. If a doctor can feel the edge of the liver at any other time, the organ is considered enlarged.
The liver is the largest organ in the human body and performs many important functions, including metabolizing food into energy and purifying the blood of poisons. The liver also produces a substance known as bile which helps in the digestion of food. A variety of conditions can affect the liver and cause it to enlarge.
One of the most common causes of hepatomegaly is alcohol abuse, which can lead to liver disease. Fatty liver disease can also have non-alcoholic causes. This can happen when fat builds up in the liver, resulting in inflammation and fibrous tissue buildup within the organ. Hepatitis A, B, and C are viral infections that can also cause the liver to become enlarged. Mononucleosis is another contagious infection that can cause an enlarged liver.
Congestive heart failure is a condition characterized by the inability of the heart to pump adequate blood around the body. This disease can also cause the liver to become enlarged. Hemochromatosis is a disease that results from excessive accumulation of iron in the body, including organs such as the heart, pancreas and liver. In the liver, this can manifest as hepatomegaly.
Cancer should be considered in the diagnosis of hepatomegaly. Liver cancer is often metastatic, meaning it spreads from other parts of the body. Blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, can also cause a swollen liver.
Symptoms of hepatomegaly can include abdominal pain, bloating, or a feeling of fullness. Jaundice, which is a yellow discoloration of the skin, can also be an indication of a variety of liver diseases. Diagnostic tests that can help identify the cause of an enlarged liver include radiological tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, and ultrasound. Liver function tests, which are simple blood tests, can also be used to make a diagnosis. Sometimes a liver biopsy, a procedure in which a sample of liver tissue is removed by a surgeon and then examined by a pathologist, is needed to definitively diagnose the cause of any liver problems.
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