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Enlarged liver Assessment Questionnaire

Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Enlarged liver. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.



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  1. Do you, or have you ever owned a dog as a pet?

    Why: may indicate increased risk of hydatid disease. Hydatid disease occurs when humans ingest the embryos of the dog tapeworm which may occur with direct contact with infected dogs or by eating uncooked, improperly washed vegetables contaminated with infected canine feces.

  2. Risk factors for viral hepatitis?

    Why: e.g. African or Far eastern country of origin, recent consumption of shellfish (may suggest hepatitis A), intravenous drug use, tattoos, male homosexuality, female prostitution, recent travel to areas with increased risk of hepatitis A, needle stick injury.

  3. Past medical history?

    Why: e.g. primary biliary cirrhosis may be associated with Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis; primary liver cancer is associated with Hepatitis B and C, alcoholic cirrhosis and hemochromatosis; liver metastases most commonly originate from breast, lung and colon cancer; right heart failure may be caused by left heart failure, chronic lung disease, pulmonary embolism or valvular heart disease secondary to previous rheumatic fever.

  4. Sexual history, including history of homosexuality?

    Why: may provide information concerning risk of Hepatitis B and HIV infection.

  5. Alcohol history?

    Why: will indicate risk of alcohol hepatitis.

  6. History of injecting drug use?

    Why: may indicate risk of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.

  7. Family history?

    Why: e.g. hemochromatosis.

  8. Abdominal pain?

    Why: may suggest biliary obstruction due to gallstones but any cause of enlarged liver may cause abdominal pain due to distention of the liver capsule.

  9. Jaundice (yellow skin and sclera)?

    Why: may suggest hemolytic anemia; toxic or infectious hepatitis; bile duct obstruction due to gallstones, carcinoma of the pancreas or ampulla of Vater; or biliary cirrhosis.

  10. Fever?

    Why: may suggest viral hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, ascending cholangitis, and other infectious diseases.

  11. Gross weight loss?

    Why: often suggests cancer ( e.g. metastases, liver cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, cancer of the pancreas or bile ducts).

  12. Symptoms of primary liver cancer (hepatocellular cancer)?

    Why: e.g. weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, ache in the right upper abdomen, swollen abdomen.

  13. Symptoms of right heart failure?

    Why: e.g. fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea, swollen ankles, swollen abdomen and symptoms of left heart failure (unable to lie flat in bed due to breathlessness).

  14. Symptoms of hemochromatosis?

    Why: e.g. bronze pigmentation, fatigue, loss of libido, painful joints, symptoms of diabetes, symptoms of congestive cardiac failure.

  15. Symptoms of hydatid disease of the liver?

    Why: e.g. jaundice (yellow skin), abdominal pain, fever.

  16. Symptoms of viral hepatitis?

    Why: e.g. feel unwell with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headaches, distaste for cigarettes, mild fever, mild abdominal discomfort, jaundice, dark urine, pale colored stools, may develop a rash and painful joints.

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Enlarged liver:




Conditions listing medical complications: Enlarged liver:



