Definition:
Hepatomegaly is the condition of having an abnormally enlarged liver.
Diagnosis:
After a thorough medical history and physical examination of the patient, blood tests should be drawn. An important series of blood tests are the liver function tests, which give a good impression of the patient's broad metabolic standing.
An ultrasound of the liver can reliably detect a dilated biliary duct system, which helps differentiate parenchymal liver disease from extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. Ultrasound can also detect the characteristic texture of a cirrhotic liver, and can help fine needle aspiration of cysts, abscesses and tumours.
Computed tomography (CT) can be helpful in obtaining more accurate anatomical information, and is unaffected by the obesity or the presence of bowel gases.
Treatment:
Treatment of an enlarged liver depends on the cause, like alcohol abuse, hepatitis, heart failure, liver cancer, etc.
Symptoms and Signs:
AN enlarged liver often causes no signs or symptoms, though tenderness, pain and jaundice are possible.
Causes:
Some common causes of hepatomegaly are glandular fever, hepatitis, liver abscess, malaria, amoeba infection, hydatid cyst, leptospirosis, and actinomycosis.
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