The liver is an important organ because it produces bile, detoxifies the blood and manufactures proteins needed for blood clotting. Several different conditions can cause an enlarged liver, also known as hepatomegaly.
Symptoms
An enlarged liver can be detected during a physical exam if the liver can be felt easily upon palpation of the area just under the ribs on the right side. An enlarged liver can also result in fatigue, abdominal pain and yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin, MayoClinic.com notes.
Causes
Patients who have an enlarged liver cannot be treated unless the cause of the hepatomegaly is determined. Inflammation due to viral hepatitis or alcohol consumption, liver cancer, heart problems or problems with the bile ducts can cause hepatomegaly.
Diagnosis/Treatment
Blood tests, which measure how well the liver is functioning, can determine if a viral infection is causing hepatitis; they can sometimes determine the cause of hepatomegaly. Patients may also need an ultrasound to look at the structure of the liver or receive a liver biopsy to determine the cause, MedlinePlus explains. Treatment of hepatomegaly focuses on correcting the underlying disorder that is causing the liver to be enlarged.
