Why does liver get enlarged

They also give healthcare providers a wealth of information about the size and structure of the liver. If necessary, your healthcare provider may order additional, more complex imaging tests, including an abdominal computed tomography CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging MRI. Both examinations are more complex than ultrasound, but can sometimes answer questions that ultrasound cannot.

More invasive testing is sometimes necessary depending on the results of blood tests and imaging. If, for example, fluid is discovered in your abdomen, your healthcare provider may prescribe the removal of some fluid for analysis. This procedure, called a paracentesis, can be performed bedside under local anesthesia. Occasionally, a biopsy of the liver is required to reach a final diagnosis. A biopsy is a procedure in which a small amount of tissue is removed for examination under a microscope.

Like a paracentesis, this procedure is also often performed bedside, using a local anesthetic, during which a small needle is placed into the liver through the skin and a tiny piece of tissue removed.

Remember that hepatomegaly is usually a symptom of an underlying disease that may or may not require treatment. Your treatment plan will ultimately be determined by what is causing your liver enlargement.

There are many causes of liver enlargement. Some of the most common ones include hepatitis, steatosis, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, liver tumors, or storage disorders of the liver. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, which can be caused by viruses. Of these, the most common cause of chronic long-lasting hepatitis are hepatitis B and C viruses. If you are diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B virus, your healthcare provider may recommend antiviral treatment if an initial evaluation reveals that you have severe active disease.

Most patients with chronic hepatitis C will be considered for therapy. Antiviral agents for hepatitis B and C include interferon or other agents that act directly to stop the virus medications whose names end in -vir such as entecavir, ledipasvir, among others. Also called "fatty liver," steatosis occurs when liver cells accumulate fat in response to injury. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD refers to an accumulation of fat in the liver not caused by alcohol, viral infection, medications, or genetic disease.

A related term is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis NASH , which refers to steatosis associated with inflammation. Just like patients with other types of liver disease, patients with NAFLD can progress to advanced liver disease and cirrhosis. Treatment often centers on lifestyle modification such as diet, exercise, and weight loss.

Medications are reserved mainly for patients with more severe disease. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause a range of liver conditions, including alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver disease, or cirrhosis. The workup may also include blood tests or imaging. It is critical to recognize the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse early because patients often do not develop symptoms until they have life-threatening liver disease.

Treatment for alcohol abuse may take many different forms, including counseling, residential treatment, or support groups. Occasionally, medications can be used as an adjunct to other types of therapy. Both benign and malignant liver tumors may cause enlargement of the liver.

The most common types of benign liver tumors include cysts, hemangiomas, adenomas, or focal nodular hyperplasia. Occasionally, a biopsy may be required to make a final diagnosis.

Usually, no treatment is necessary for benign liver tumors, unless they are causing severe symptoms such as abdominal pain or bleeding. Rarely, liver adenomas can degenerate into a cancerous tumor, and your healthcare provider may recommend periodic imaging to make sure no changes have occurred in your liver.

Malignant liver tumors can be divided into primary or secondary liver tumors. Primary liver tumors are tumors that arise directly from the liver tissue. The most common examples are hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma. The treatment arsenal for primary liver tumors may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or other liver-directed procedures.

Some patients with hepatocellular carcinoma may qualify for curative liver transplantation. Your specific treatment plan will depend on your diagnosis and specific circumstances. A secondary liver tumor is a tumor from some other part of the body that has involved the liver. Tumors may grow directly into the liver known as direct invasion or may spread to the liver via the bloodstream known as metastasis.

Almost any tumor can spread to the liver, and treatment is variable. When your healthcare providers create a treatment plan for secondary liver tumors, they will consider your overall health, the behavior of your disease, other coexisting diseases, and your own treatment goals. This refers to a group of diseases where the liver stores too much carbohydrate, minerals, or other biological molecules.

When the liver is significantly enlarged, a person may feel as though they are full on the right side of their body, or they may report some discomfort in that area. People may also experience some accompanying symptoms of an underlying liver problem. These may include:. Liver steatosis is the medical term for a buildup of fats in the liver.

It is a common condition, affecting around 1 in 3 adults in the U. There are four different grades of liver steatosis. Treatment for hepatomegaly involves treating the underlying cause. The sections below will outline some potential causes and their associated treatment options in more detail.

The treatment for hepatitis depends on the type of hepatitis a person has. The different types and their associated treatments include:.

The treatment for ALD will involve treating the alcohol use disorder itself. This may include one or more of the following:. Some potential treatment options include:. The treatment for liver cancer will partly depend on whether the cancer is primary or secondary.

Other factors to consider include the size and stage of the cancer. Although there is currently no cure for heart failure, there are treatments available that can help manage the condition and prevent further complications. Some examples include:. Some women experience hepatomegaly during pregnancy.

Some causes of hepatomegaly during pregnancy can severely affect the health of the woman and the fetus. In infants, hepatitis B infections can be severe or even life threatening. Children who have the condition do not usually experience any outward symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they tend to include fatigue and discomfort in the upper right abdomen. However, it appears to be more common among children with the following conditions:.

The extent to which a slightly enlarged liver is dangerous depends on the reason for the enlargement. However, it could be an indication that a person should consider making some lifestyle changes.

That said, certain conditions can cause a slightly enlarged liver to become a significantly enlarged and damaged liver without treatment. Such conditions include:. A study used ultrasound to estimate the average diameter of an adult liver. The data below was gathered from 2, people ranging in age from 18 to In this study, only 11 percent had a liver larger than 16 centimeters cm. Body shape, weight, and sex can also affect the size of your liver.

Your doctor will take these into account when examining your liver for possible signs of hepatomegaly. If a doctor suspects a more serious condition, they may recommend a liver biopsy.

A liver biopsy is a surgical test where your doctor takes a small sample of your liver for microscopic examination. The likelihood of feeling an enlarged liver is unlikely. But because damage to your liver can cause an accumulation of fluid within your abdomen, you may notice that your stomach sticks out more than usual. You could also experience other symptoms like jaundice, loss of appetite, and stomach pain. Make an appointment with a doctor if you think you may have signs or symptoms of hepatomegaly.

Your liver is a vital organ. This could include exercising more, drinking less alcohol, and eating a balanced diet. Your treatment options depend upon the underlying disorders that cause your liver enlargement. Some of the treatments your doctor will recommend may include:. These include:. There are many lifestyle factors that can cause hepatomegaly. Managing these factors can decrease your risk for an enlarged liver.

The outlook for recovery and reduction of symptoms depends on the underlying cause of your hepatomegaly. You may have a better outcome if your doctor discovers hepatomegaly in its early stages. Medications are available to reduce the symptoms of conditions, like congestive heart failure and liver failure. Severe liver damage can lead to lifelong complications.

Damage to the liver from excessive drinking can lead to ARLD. Years of alcohol abuse cause the liver to become inflamed and swollen. The liver is an important organ that grows as you age. An enlarged liver could be a sign of a serious condition that requires medical treatment.

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