What Are the Treatments for an Enlarged Liver?
The liver is the largest organ in the abdominal cavity. Located predominantly in the upper right quadrant, of the abdomen, the liver performs over 400 different processes that sustain a healthy body. When exposed to disease, the liver can enlarge, a condition referred to as hepatomegaly. Treatment for this condition varies and depends upon the underlying cause, according to the University of Southern California Department of Surgery 1.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Liver Function
The liver performs a variety of functions, but most importantly it removes toxic wastes from the blood and excretes them in the stool. The liver produces bile, a substance used to breakdown fats ingested from food. The liver produces the components to clot blood, a process imperative to stop bleeding. It produces bilirubin, a substance synthesized from the breakdown of hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells. Lastly, the liver processes ingested carbohydrates, proteins and fats into smaller components used cellular function, according to Brown University 2.
- The liver performs a variety of functions, but most importantly it removes toxic wastes from the blood and excretes them in the stool.
- The liver produces the components to clot blood, a process imperative to stop bleeding.
Causes
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The liver works in conjunction with other organs, so disorders that affect other organs of the body also affect the liver.
Signs and Symptoms
A normal liver is slightly palpable along the bottom of the rib cage in the upper right portion of the abdomen. An enlarged liver, however, is felt to a greater extent, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 34.
Diagnosis
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An enlarged liver is diagnosed by an abdominal x-ray, ultrasound or CT scan, in addition to a blood test to measure liver function, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 34.
Treatment
Treatment will vary according to the underlying cause of hepatomegaly. For example, if cirrhosis is present, lifestyle and diet changes are recommended. Avoid drinking alcohol or eating salt; consult a physician before taking any type of medication or supplement since the diseased liver may not be able to process such substances. Leukemia is treated with chemotherapy. Inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis are treated with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Overall, the goal of hepatomegaly treatment is to address the underlying pathology to reduce the inflammation of the liver, therefore restoring normal liver size, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 234.
- Treatment will vary according to the underlying cause of hepatomegaly.
- Inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis are treated with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
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References
- University of Southern California Department of Surgery: About the Liver
- Brown University: Normal Liver Physiology
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hepatomegaly
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Cirrhosis Treatment
- Cleveland Clinic. Enlarged Liver. Updated September 7, 2018.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is Viral Hepatitis? Updated
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Enlarged Liver: Diagnosis and Tests. Updated September 7, 2018.
- Nassir F, Rector RS, Hammoud GM, Ibdah JA. Pathogenesis and Prevention of Hepatic Steatosis. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2015;11(3):167–175.
- Merck Manual Professional Version. Alcoholic Liver Disease. Updated July 2019.
- Madrazo BL. Using imaging studies to differentiate among benign liver tumors. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2010;6(7):423–427.
- Cong WM, Bu H, Chen J, et al. Practice guidelines for the pathological diagnosis of primary liver cancer: 2015 update. World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(42):9279–9287. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i42.9279
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Liver Metastases (Secondary Liver Cancer). Updated
- Cleveland Clinic. Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD). Updated August 2, 2019.
Writer Bio
Alison Smith is an academic from Toronto, who has six years of experience publishing scientific manuscripts and abstracts within “Brain Research” and “The Society for Neuroscience.” Smith obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, and held doctoral funding from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).