Common Causes
1 Blood tests. A blood sample is tested to determine liver enzyme levels and identify viruses that can cause enlarged liver. 2 Imaging tests. ... 3 Magnetic resonance elastography uses sound waves to create a visual map (elastogram) of the stiffness of liver tissue. ... 4 Removing a sample of liver tissue for testing (liver biopsy). ...
Related Conditions
Additional procedures. If your doctor suspects you have an enlarged liver, he or she might recommend other tests and procedures, including: Blood tests. A blood sample is tested to determine liver enzyme levels and identify viruses that can cause enlarged liver. Imaging tests. Imaging tests include CT scan, ultrasound or MRI.
What are the tests for enlarged liver?
An enlarged liver may feel irregular, soft or firm, with or without lumps depending on the underlying cause. This kind of test can determine the liver’s size and texture in order to assess the degree of liver enlargement. Your doctor will use two methods of physical examination: a percussion test and a palpation test.
What to do if you have an enlarged liver?
Get blood tests. The blood sample will indicate what your liver enzyme levels are and thereby provide important information about the health and functioning of your liver. Other blood tests may also be appropriate, including a complete blood cell count, hepatitis virus screen, and blood clotting tests.
What does an enlarged liver feel like?
How do I know if my liver is healthy?
Causes
The liver is a large, football-shaped organ found in the upper right portion of your abdomen. The size of the liver varies with age, sex and body size. Many conditions can cause it to enlarge, including:
Risk factors
You're more likely to develop an enlarged liver if you have a liver disease. Factors that can increase your risk of liver problems include:
Expert Q&A
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Tips
Because alcohol consumption is such a big risk factor for many liver diseases, quitting drinking can help reverse any potential damage.
Warnings
If you experience sudden, severe abdominal pain, seek emergency medical treatment.
About This Article
This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience.
Introduction to the Liver Examination
The signs of liver disease are for the most part to be found OUTSIDE the abdomen. The goal of this Stanford Medicine 25 session is for you to be able to list these signs from head to foot.
Palpation During the Liver Exam
The purpose of liver palpation is to approximate liver size, feel for tenderness and masses. Keep in mind that many of the findings of liver disease are found outside the abdomen.
What are some of the most common liver tests?
A series of special blood tests can often determine whether or not the liver is inflamed, injured, or functioning properly. These tests can also distinguish between acute and chronic liver disorders and between hepatitis (infection or inflammation of the liver) and cholestasis (disruption in the formation of or obstruction in the flow of bile).
Function tests
Serum bilirubin test. This test measures the levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is made by the liver and is excreted in the bile. Elevated levels of bilirubin may indicate an obstruction of bile flow or a problem in the processing of bile by the liver.
Liver enzymes
Serum alkaline phosphatase test. This test is used to measure the level of alkaline phosphatase (an enzyme) in the blood. Alkaline phosphatase is found in many tissues, with the highest concentrations in the liver, biliary tract, and bone.
Additional diagnostic tests
Alpha-fetoprotein test. Alpha-fetoprotein (a specific blood protein) is made by fetal tissue and by tumors. This test may be done to predict the risk for primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). It is also done to monitor the effectiveness of therapy in certain cancers, such as hepatomas (a type of liver cancer).
