Obscure hepatomegaly in clinical practice--a clinicopathological study.

One hundred and one patients (51 females and 50 males), presenting with unexplained hepatomegaly were investigated. The histological findings on liver biopsy included normal architecture (36), changes of viral hepatitis (5), round cell infiltration in portal tract (10), fatty changes (14), hepatic malignancy (8), biliary disease (3), infections of the liver (12), cirrhosis of liver (6) and a miscellaneous group comprising of 8 cases. A past history of jaundice was a frequent feature in those showing changes of viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and chronic inflammatory changes. Similarly significant elevation of transaminases was most frequently encountered in patients with histological features of viral hepatitis. Gross elevation of alkaline phosphatase was present in those with hepatic malignancy and biliary disease. Liver scan was helpful in 15 cases showing focal involvement such as malignancy and early abscess formation. Obscure liver enlargements form a heterogenous group and further work is needed in patients showing normal architecture and minimal histological changes (JPMA 30:84, 1980).