Enlarged Liver (Hepatomegaly)
Enlarged liver, medically known as hepatomegaly, refers to an increase in liver size beyond normal. It’s a sign of an underlying condition rather than a disease itself.
🧬 Causes:
- Liver diseases:
- Hepatitis (viral, alcoholic, autoimmune)
- Fatty liver disease (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
- Cirrhosis
- Liver cancer or tumors
- Infections:
- Mononucleosis
- Malaria
- Other systemic infections
- Heart-related causes:
- Congestive heart failure leading to liver congestion
- Metabolic and storage diseases:
- Hemochromatosis (iron overload)
- Wilson’s disease (copper overload)
- Amyloidosis
🩺 Symptoms:
- Often no symptoms initially
- Feeling of fullness or discomfort in the right upper abdomen
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes)
- Fatigue, weakness
- Abdominal swelling
- Weight loss or loss of appetite (if underlying serious disease)
🔍 Diagnosis:
- Physical exam (doctor may feel enlarged liver)
- Blood tests (liver function tests, viral markers)
- Imaging (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI)
- Sometimes liver biopsy to find cause
💊 Treatment:
- Focuses on treating the underlying cause
- Lifestyle changes (e.g., alcohol cessation, weight management)
- Medications for hepatitis or metabolic disorders
- In severe cases, surgery or liver transplant