I have an enlarged liver. It is fatty and is measuring 20 cm is that enlargement from the fat or is that inflammation

[Freddyking]

I had a sonagram and it was revealed that my liver is enlarged. I am diagnosed with a fatty liver . It measured 20 cm. My liver enzymes are fine. Waiting for results of Fibroscan. Should I be worried?

[Hidden]

Liver enlargement can result from inflammation and/or fatty infiltration. When one or both decrease the liver can shrink. In your case the enlargement is probably due to fat and if you can reduce the amount of fatty infiltration your liver may reduce in size however probably not back to normal size.

If you have fatty liver without inflammation then you may be lucky and have benign non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which is common in Western countries. If you have fatty liver & inflammation combined then you may have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which unless stopped can result in progressive liver scarring (fibrosis) and eventually cirrhosis.

A sedentary lifestyle combined with an unhealthy diet high in fats and sugars resulting in becoming overweight increases the chances of getting fatty liver. You don't necessarily have to be overweight however to have fatty liver. If you are sedentary and overweight you should lose weight gradually through diet and exercise. If you are diagnosed as having the benign version of fatty liver i.e. NAFLD it doesn't mean you shouldn't try to reduce the amount of fat in your liver because NAFLD can turn into the more serious disease NASH.

If your FibroScan shows both scarring (fibrosis) and (assuming you get a CAP score) a large amount of fatty infiltration you should be worried. The greater the amount of scarring (fibrosis) the more concerned you should be. Even if the FibroScan only shows minimal or moderate scarring together with a high amount of fatty infiltration you wouldn't want your liver to become more enlarged and/or turn into NASH. You should avoid liver stressors particularly alcohol as well as non-prescription drugs.

With a liver heading towards double normal size now is the time to overhaul your lifestyle to reduce the likelihood of serious problems in the future. My mother had an enlarged liver like yours that became increasingly scarred (fibrotic) & turned into cirrhosis which eventually killed her. Over the last 15 years of her life she suffered badly (a kind of death by a thousand cuts) before succumbing to liver failure. It's a fate better avoided if possible by making lifestyle changes now which only you can make.

[Freddyking in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your thorough response. Since getting the report I have seen a dietician and am dieting and exercising daily. I have completely cut out the alcohol. I am not a heavy drinker but I have been a chronic drinker. Drinking every weekend. I am afraid that the drinking has contributed to my issues. I still haven’t gotten the report back from the Fibroscan but I don’t have a good feeling about it.

[Hidden]

Hi Freddy,

Welcome to the forum. We have a lot of supportive information on fatty liver on our website that may be of use.

No one on the forum is medically qualified to say what is causing your liver to be enlarged- that is a question only your own doctor and medical team can answer.

Keep us posted on your fibroscan- Take care.

[Freddyking in reply to Hidden]

Will do. Grateful for the sounding board and feedback.

[Amethyst91]

Hello, I also have an enlarged liver at the same size as yours. Ct revealed a Riedel’s lobe which they say is the reasoning but I don’t believe it. My Ultrasound showed mild fatty liver and my fibrosure blood test showed no damage, F0 at .14, only blood test that is elevated is bilirubin which was a 1.8 but went down to a .08. All drs say no inflammation but my entire right side of the body hurts all the time so I’m not convinced. I got a fibroscan measured for next month.

How was your fibroscan if you don’t mind me asking?

[Freddyking]

Hello, My Fibroscan showed F0-F1 for stiffness and S0 for steatosis. My blood had always been fine, so I had no idea until the sonogram that I had a fatty liver. The thing is, for the last couple of years, I had pain in the liver area and my gastro doctor always dismissed it. Also, prior to getting the scan, I really felt awful. I was very tired and achy all the time. Finding out that I had a fatty liver was a warning from god to change my ways. I hadn't been eating well, I was overweight, and I was drinking too much. I have since learned how important the liver is to health, and how we have to honor it in order to stay healthy. I am currently reading Liver Rescue, which I highly recommend. Its a great book with everything you ever wanted to know about the liver. I stopped drinking, and I follow a liver healthy diet. I have lost ten pounds in two months, and I feel sooo much better.

I would say to you, if you are not satisfied with what your doctor is telling you, or if you feel that your doctor is dismissing your concerns, then get another doctor. Don't give up until you are satisfied that you have answers that make sense to you. Listen your body.

[Hidden in reply to Freddyking]

Great update. So do you have nafld or Nash? What was your ast and alt score?

Where was your pain? Thanks

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