BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuEnlarged liverHepatosplenomegaly; Enlarged liver; Liver enlargementEnlarged liver refers to swelling of the liver beyond its normal size. Hepatomegaly is another word to describe this problem.If both the liver and spleen are enlarged, it is called hepatosplenomegaly.SpleenSplenomegaly is a larger-than-normal spleen. The spleen is an organ in the upper left part of the belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Considerations The lower edge of the liver normally comes just to the lower edge of the ribs on the right side. The edge of the liver is normally thin and firm. It cannot be felt with the fingertips below the edge of the ribs, except when you take a deep breath. It may be enlarged if a health care provider can feel it in this area. Causes The liver is involved in many of the body's functions. Its function is affected by many conditions that can cause hepatomegaly, including:Alcohol use (especially alcohol abuse) Cancer metastases (spread of cancer to the liver) MetastasesLiver metastases refer to cancer that has spread to the liver from somewhere else in the body. Liver metastases are not the same as cancer that start...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Congestive heart failure Congestive heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Glycogen storage disease Hepatitis A Hepatitis AHepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver from the hepatitis A virus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis B Hepatitis BHepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of viral hepatitis ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis C Hepatitis CHepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver. Other types of viral hepatitis include:Hepatitis AHepatitis BHepat...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatocellular carcinomaHepatocellular carcinoma is cancer that starts in the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hereditary fructose intolerance Infectious mononucleosis Leukemia Niemann-Pick disease Niemann-Pick diseaseNiemann-Pick disease (NPD) is a group of diseases passed down through families (inherited) in which fatty substances called lipids collect in the cel...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Primary biliary cholangitis Primary biliary cholangitisThe bile ducts are tubes that move bile from the liver to the small intestine. Bile is a substance that helps with digestion. All of the bile ducts...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Reye syndrome Reye syndromeReye syndrome is characterized by sudden (acute) brain damage and liver function problems. This condition does not have a known cause. This syndrome...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sarcoidosis SarcoidosisSarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sclerosing cholangitis Sclerosing cholangitisSclerosing cholangitis refers to swelling (inflammation), scarring, and destruction of the bile ducts inside and outside of the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Portal vein thrombosis Steatosis (fat in the liver from metabolic problems such as diabetes, obesity, and high triglycerides, also called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH) When to Contact a Medical Professional This condition is most often detected by a provider. You may not be aware of the liver or spleen swelling. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will examine you and ask questions such as:Did you notice fullness or a lump in the abdomen? What other symptoms do you have? Is there any abdominal pain? Abdominal painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Is there any yellowing of the skin (jaundice)? Is there any vomiting? Is there any unusual-colored or pale-colored stools? Pale-colored stoolsStools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallblad...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Has your urine appeared to be darker than usual (brownish)? Have you had a fever? What medicines are you taking including over-the-counter and herbal medicines? How much alcohol do you drink? Tests to determine the cause of hepatomegaly vary, depending on the suspected cause, but may include:Abdominal x-ray Abdominal ultrasound (may be done to confirm the condition if the provider thinks your liver feels enlarged during a physical exam) Abdominal ultrasoundAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the abdomen CT scan of the abdomenAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests, including blood clotting tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scan of the abdomenMRI scan of the abdomenAn abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The waves create pictures of the inside ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesMartin P. Approach to the patient with liver disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 137.Plevris J, Parks R. The gastrointestinal system. In: Dover AR, Innes JA , Fairhurst K, eds. Macleod's Clinical Examination. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 6.Squires JE, Balistreri WF. Manifestations of liver disease. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 382.AllVideoImagesTogFatty liver - CT scan - illustration A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing a fatty liver (steatosis of the liver). Note the liver enlargement and dark color compared with the spleen (gray body in lower right).Fatty liver - CT scanillustrationLiver with disproportional fattening - CT scan - illustration A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing disproportional steatosis (fattening) of the liver.Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scanillustrationHepatomegaly - illustration Hepatomegaly is enlargement of the liver beyond its normal size. Certain conditions such as infection, parasites, tumors, anemias, toxic states, storage diseases, heart failure, congenital heart disease, and metabolic disturbances may all cause an enlarged liver.HepatomegalyillustrationFatty liver - CT scan - illustration A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing a fatty liver (steatosis of the liver). Note the liver enlargement and dark color compared with the spleen (gray body in lower right).Fatty liver - CT scanillustrationLiver with disproportional fattening - CT scan - illustration A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing disproportional steatosis (fattening) of the liver.Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scanillustrationHepatomegaly - illustration Hepatomegaly is enlargement of the liver beyond its normal size. Certain conditions such as infection, parasites, tumors, anemias, toxic states, storage diseases, heart failure, congenital heart disease, and metabolic disturbances may all cause an enlarged liver.Hepatomegalyillustration Tests for Enlarged liver Abdominal MRI scanRelated Information Splenomegaly(Symptoms)Anemia(Condition)Anemia - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 5/2/2023 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. 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Enlarged liverHepatosplenomegaly; Enlarged liver; Liver enlargementEnlarged liver refers to swelling of the liver beyond its normal size. Hepatomegaly is another word to describe this problem.If both the liver and spleen are enlarged, it is called hepatosplenomegaly.SpleenSplenomegaly is a larger-than-normal spleen. The spleen is an organ in the upper left part of the belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Considerations The lower edge of the liver normally comes just to the lower edge of the ribs on the right side. The edge of the liver is normally thin and firm. It cannot be felt with the fingertips below the edge of the ribs, except when you take a deep breath. It may be enlarged if a health care provider can feel it in this area. Causes The liver is involved in many of the body's functions. Its function is affected by many conditions that can cause hepatomegaly, including:Alcohol use (especially alcohol abuse) Cancer metastases (spread of cancer to the liver) MetastasesLiver metastases refer to cancer that has spread to the liver from somewhere else in the body. Liver metastases are not the same as cancer that start...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Congestive heart failure Congestive heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Glycogen storage disease Hepatitis A Hepatitis AHepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver from the hepatitis A virus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis B Hepatitis BHepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of viral hepatitis ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis C Hepatitis CHepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver. Other types of viral hepatitis include:Hepatitis AHepatitis BHepat...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatocellular carcinomaHepatocellular carcinoma is cancer that starts in the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hereditary fructose intolerance Infectious mononucleosis Leukemia Niemann-Pick disease Niemann-Pick diseaseNiemann-Pick disease (NPD) is a group of diseases passed down through families (inherited) in which fatty substances called lipids collect in the cel...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Primary biliary cholangitis Primary biliary cholangitisThe bile ducts are tubes that move bile from the liver to the small intestine. Bile is a substance that helps with digestion. All of the bile ducts...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Reye syndrome Reye syndromeReye syndrome is characterized by sudden (acute) brain damage and liver function problems. This condition does not have a known cause. This syndrome...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sarcoidosis SarcoidosisSarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sclerosing cholangitis Sclerosing cholangitisSclerosing cholangitis refers to swelling (inflammation), scarring, and destruction of the bile ducts inside and outside of the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Portal vein thrombosis Steatosis (fat in the liver from metabolic problems such as diabetes, obesity, and high triglycerides, also called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH) When to Contact a Medical Professional This condition is most often detected by a provider. You may not be aware of the liver or spleen swelling. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will examine you and ask questions such as:Did you notice fullness or a lump in the abdomen? What other symptoms do you have? Is there any abdominal pain? Abdominal painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Is there any yellowing of the skin (jaundice)? Is there any vomiting? Is there any unusual-colored or pale-colored stools? Pale-colored stoolsStools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallblad...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Has your urine appeared to be darker than usual (brownish)? Have you had a fever? What medicines are you taking including over-the-counter and herbal medicines? How much alcohol do you drink? Tests to determine the cause of hepatomegaly vary, depending on the suspected cause, but may include:Abdominal x-ray Abdominal ultrasound (may be done to confirm the condition if the provider thinks your liver feels enlarged during a physical exam) Abdominal ultrasoundAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the abdomen CT scan of the abdomenAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function tests, including blood clotting tests Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scan of the abdomenMRI scan of the abdomenAn abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The waves create pictures of the inside ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesMartin P. Approach to the patient with liver disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 137.Plevris J, Parks R. The gastrointestinal system. In: Dover AR, Innes JA , Fairhurst K, eds. Macleod's Clinical Examination. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 6.Squires JE, Balistreri WF. Manifestations of liver disease. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 382.