Hepatomegaly
Enlargement of the liver, a sign with many possible causes.
Hepatomegaly is enlargement of the liver, a non-specific medical sign with many causes. These causes can broadly be broken down into infection, hepatic tumors, and metabolic disorder. It often presents as an abdominal mass and may sometimes appear with jaundice.
Quick Facts
- Symptoms
- Weight loss, lethargy
- Causes
- Liver abscess (pyogenic abscess), Malaria
- Diagnosis
- Abdominal ultrasonography
- Treatment
- Prednisone and azathioprine
Facts from the source article.
Diagnosis
When a doctor suspects hepatomegaly, they will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam, which usually reveals a liver that spans a larger area than normal. To confirm, an abdominal ultrasound can measure the liver in several ways. On a sagittal view through the midclavicular line, the maximum dimension is normally up to 18 cm in adults. The cranio-caudal measurement is normally up to 15 cm, and the ventro-dorsal depth is normally up to 13 cm. An enlarged caudate lobe is common in many diseases; on an axial plane, its cross-section should normally be less than 0.55 of the rest of the liver. Some studies define hepatomegaly on ultrasound as a longitudinal axis greater than 15.5 cm at the hepatic midline or greater than 16.0 cm at the midclavicular line. Blood work is essential, particularly liver-function tests, which provide a broad picture of the patient's metabolism. A complete blood count can help tell apart intrinsic liver disease from extrahepatic bile-duct obstruction. An ultrasound can reliably spot a dilated bile-duct system and also reveal signs of a cirrhotic liver. For a full diagnosis, a CT scan offers precise anatomical details.
Treatment
Treatment for hepatomegaly depends on what is causing it, so identifying the underlying condition is key. Autoimmune liver disease may be managed with prednisone and azathioprine. For lymphoma, options include single or multiple chemotherapy drugs, localized radiation, or surgery in certain cases. The meningococcal group C conjugate vaccine is sometimes given. In primary biliary cirrhosis, ursodeoxycholic acid helps the blood eliminate bile, which may improve survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of Hepatomegaly?
Symptoms of Hepatomegaly include weight loss and lethargy.
What causes Hepatomegaly?
Listed causes of Hepatomegaly include liver abscess (pyogenic abscess), Malaria.
More in Symptoms and Signs: Digestive System and Abdomen
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