Enlarged Liver – Tests and diagnosis - Leukemia and Enlarged Liver Diagnosis and Tests

Enlarged Liver – Tests and diagnosis
Mayo Clinic

Feb. 28, 2008

Causes:

Many conditions may cause an enlarged liver, including:

* Alcohol abuse. Abusing alcohol may cause an enlarged liver.
* Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This includes a range of conditions — such as fat accumulation in the liver followed by inflammation of the liver and the formation of fibrous tissue in the liver — which can affect people who drink little or no alcohol.
* Hepatitis. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are all contagious viral infections that affect your liver.
* Heart failure. Also called congestive heart failure, this condition means your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.
* Liver cancer. Cancer of the liver is often metastatic cancer, which occurs when tumors from other parts of the body spread (metastasize) to the liver.
* Infections such as mononucleosis. Mononucleosis (mono) is an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus.
* Excessive iron in the body (hemochromatosis). This condition causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat. The excess is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart and pancreas. Sometimes the stored iron damages these organs, leading to life-threatening conditions such as cancer, heart problems and liver disease.
* Blood disorders such as leukemia. Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells.

Next >> Tests and Diagnosis < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/enlarged-liver/DS00638/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis>
Most cases of enlarged liver are detected during a physical exam. The doctor can estimate the size of your liver by feeling how far it extends below your rib cage. The texture of your liver will also be noted. Depending on the underlying cause, an enlarged liver may feel soft, firm or irregular. Sometimes lumps are present as well.

Your doctor may recommend various diagnostic tests to help determine what's causing the enlarged liver, including:

* X-ray. An X-ray examination uses electromagnetic radiation to make images of internal organs, including your liver.
* Ultrasound. Ultrasound is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal structures, such as your liver.
* Computerized tomography (CT). CT is an X-ray tool that produces images of your internal organs that are more detailed than are those produced by conventional X-ray exams. CT scans use an X-ray-generating device that rotates around your body and a very powerful computer to create cross-sectional images, like slices, of the inside of your body.
* Liver function tests. These generally refer to blood tests that evaluate the presence of liver damage or disease. The tests usually can be done on a single blood sample.
* Liver biopsy. Examining a sample of liver tissue (biopsy) can help your doctor determine the health of your liver.

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)