Enlarged liver

Following are the factors that increase your risk of hepatomegaly:

• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Intake of high doses of drugs such as acetaminophen or vitamin supplements
• Intake of medicinal herbs such as comfrey, mahuang, and mistletoe

The signs and symptoms of liver enlargement include the following:

• Severe pain in the right upper abdomen
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Poor appetite and weight loss
• Yellowish discoloration of skin and eyes
• Swelling of the feet and legs
• Easy bruising
• Black tarry stools
• Shortness of breath

Your doctor may initiate the diagnosis with a thorough physical examination and by taking a medical history. If your doctor suspects hepatomegaly, the following tests are ordered:

Blood tests: The blood test includes a complete blood count and evaluation of the levels of liver enzymes.

Imaging tests: An abdominal X-ray is ordered to evaluate the abdominal organs. Computed tomography scans of the abdomen and magnetic resonance imaging provide a detailed view of your abdominal organs.

Ultrasound of the abdomen: The ultrasound is used to evaluate the liver and other organs.

Liver biopsy: In the liver biopsy, a small piece of your liver tissue is removed to examine under the microscope for any abnormalities.

An increase in the size of the liver may occur due to several underlying conditions. If it is left untreated, permanent liver damage or a serious complication may occur. Treating the underlying condition may reduce the complications such as hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, portal hypertension, the spread of cancer, and the spread of infection.

Your doctor determines your liver enlargement treatment based on the underlying condition or cause.

Enlarged liver treatment options:

If the underlying condition is alcoholic hepatitis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, then abstinence from alcohol consumption and adopting a healthy lifestyle would benefit you.

When the cause of enlarged liver is cancer, then the treatment involves chemotherapy, surgery, or liver transplant.

The risk of you having liver damage can be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle. Certain measures to reduce the complications are listed below.

• Complete abstinence from alcohol consumption or a moderate intake would reduce the risk of liver damage.
• Avoid taking excess doses of vitamin supplements and limit yourself to the prescribed doses.
• Confirm the safety with your doctor while taking herbal medications such as black cohosh, chaparral, comfrey, germander, valerian, mahuang, skullcap, kava, mistletoe, and pennyroyal.
• Maintain a healthy weight by avoiding the consumption of fat-containing foods.
• Smoking cessation may also reduce the risk of liver damage.
• Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables to keep your liver healthy.

Few common causes are: - Alcoholic liver disease, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, D or E), Liver cancer.

If the underlying condition is alcoholic hepatitis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, then abstinence from alcohol consumption and adopting a healthy lifestyle would benefit the patient, but in case of the enlarged liver is cancer, then the treatment involves chemotherapy, surgery, or liver transplant.