hepatomegaly
Definition
Noun: - Abnormal enlargement of the liver: A medical condition characterized by a liver that is larger than its normal size. It is not a disease itself but a clinical sign of an underlying disorder.
Usage
- Hepatomegaly is a clinical finding typically discovered during a physical examination.
- It is used in medical contexts to describe a symptom that requires further investigation to determine its cause.
Examples
- The patient's abdominal discomfort led to an ultrasound, which confirmed hepatomegaly.
- Common causes of hepatomegaly include congestive heart failure, viral hepatitis, and certain cancers.
- The doctor noted hepatomegaly upon palpating the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Advanced Usage
- "Hepatomegaly with splenomegaly": Often used to describe concurrent enlargement of the liver and spleen, which may indicate specific systemic conditions.
- The blood test results, along with the observed hepatomegaly with splenomegaly, suggested a myeloproliferative disorder.
Variants and Related Words
- Hepatic (adj): Pertaining to the liver.
- Hepatic function tests were ordered.
- Megaly (suffix): A combining form meaning "enlargement".
- Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), cardiomegaly (enlarged heart).
Synonyms
- Enlarged liver: The common, non-technical term for hepatomegaly.
Notes on Meaning
Hepatomegaly specifically refers to the physical state of an enlarged liver. It is distinct from liver diseases (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis), which may cause hepatomegaly as one of their symptoms. The term is neutral and describes the finding, not the cause or the disease process.
Noun
-
abnormal enlargement of the liver
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