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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffMost 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.
