Hepatomegaly

Alternative names:

enlarged liver; hepatosplenomegaly; liver enlargement

Home care:

Contact your health care provider.

Call your health care provider if:

(This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider, and the affected individual may or may not have been aware of its presence.)

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained. This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider during a physical examination.

Medical history questions documenting hepatomegaly in detail include:

• time pattern
  • When did you notice a lump in the abdomen?

• quality
  • How much is the liver enlarged?

• other
  • What other symptoms are also present?
  • Is there any abdominal pain?
  • Is there any jaundice?
  • Is there any vomiting?
  • Is there any unusual-colored or pale-colored stools?

Diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the hepatomegaly vary depending on the suspected cause, but may include:

• abdominal film
• CT scan of the abdomen
• liver function tests, including blood clotting profiles
• other tests for suspected causes

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to hepatomegaly to your personal medical record.