Hi Doctor,My name is AAAAA and I have a friend/housemate who has recently been diagnosed with an enlarged liver. She appears to have had it for only a week or thats atleast how long she has had pain in her side for but has no other symptoms and now the pain has appeared to ease over the past 2 days. The doctor she saw couldnt really tell her why her liver was enlarged and she has a specialist appointment next week but i was just wondering if there is anything dietry or enviromentally etc that can cause this to happen or if it necessariliy means the beginings of liver failure or hepatitis etc? She does have quite a healthy diet and is a dance instructor but we would just like to get some idea of wether its necessariliy serious?!
Hi, Thanks for using Chat Doctor. There are many reasons for enlarged liver, could be due:InfectionMetabolic disorders Chat Doctor. She needs to get complete blood counts, liver function test and Ultrasound of liver can reliably detect a dilated biliary-duct system, which helps distinguish parenchymal liver disease from extrahepatic bile-duct obstruction. Ultrasound can also detect the characteristic texture of a cirrhotic liver, and can guide fine-needle aspiration of cysts, abscesses and tumors. Computed tomography (CT) can help obtain more accurate anatomical information, as a first line of investigationConsult your doctor for examination and management. Hope I answered your question. Feel free to ask me if you have any further queries. Wish you good health. Take care. Regards