Hepatomegaly

Alternative names:

enlarged liver; hepatosplenomegaly; liver enlargement

Definition:

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 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:

• alcoholism
• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• congestive heart failure
• leukemia
• neuroblastoma
• Reye's syndrome
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• Niemann-Pick disease
• Hereditary fructose intolerance
• glycogen storage disease
• tumor metastases
• primary biliary cirrhosis
• sarcoidosis
• sclerosing cholangitis
• hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)

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.