Understanding Hepatomegaly: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.

Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.

All Conditions

Hepatomegaly

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Enlarged liver

General

Hepatomegaly is an enlarged liver. Hepatomegaly can be the result of many conditions, such as hepatitis- an infection of the liver, obesity, medications, alcohol abuse, toxins, autoimmune disease, metabolic syndrome, and genetic storage diseases. Hepatomegaly can also be a sign for cysts in the liver or tumors that spread to the liver, or a blood cancer like leukemia or lymphoma. Heart and blood vessel disease including congestive heart failure, hepatic vein thrombosis and a venous-occlusive disease can also result in hepatomegaly. An enlarged liver can also be a sign for taking too much vitamins, supplements or medication as well as herbal supplements like black cohosh.

80 people with Hepatomegaly are on Alike.

"Alike is the place to get answers from people who firsthand share your health challenges"

Signs & symptoms

Hepatomegaly symptoms include a feeling of fullness and discomfort in the abdomen. Other symptoms, which depend on the reason for the hepatomegaly, may also include jaundice, fatigue, itching, muscle aches, abdominal pain, poor appetite, easy bruising, nausea and weight loss.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of hepatomegaly starts with a physical exam- normally, the liver is not supposed to be palpated on a physical exam but an enlarged liver can be palpated. In order to find the reason for the hepatomegaly, other tests may be performed such as a complete blood count, liver functions, imaging tests like abdominal X-ray, liver US,a CT or an MRI. A liver biopsy is also an option.

Treatment

Treatment for hepatomegaly depends on the underlying cause and may include treatment for hepatitis, chemotherapy, surgery, liver transplant, quitting alcohol and losing weight.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

Latest Discussions

Rayningtigress

Liver Disease Stigma: The Judgmental Eyes

Avisdavis

Hepatomegaly and Fatty Liver: What's the Difference?

Sissaboom

How Are You Feeling Physically?

Kenn_hill

Burning Pain Under Right Rib Cage

minnieme05

Worried Mommy: Hard Spot Near Son's Liver

minnieme05

Swelling on my 1-year-old's stomach

Alike Wisdom

Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences