Liver (cont.)
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- Liver facts
- Liver overview
- How large is the liver?
- Where is the liver located (liver anatomy)?
- What is the function of the liver?
- What special features enable the liver to do so much?
- What diseases affect the liver?
- How do liver diseases cause symptoms?
- What about blood tests for the diagnosis of liver disease?
- Why does the doctor examine the liver?
- What is a liver biopsy?
- What else is important about the liver?
- Find a local Doctor in your town
What diseases affect the liver?
The most common liver diseases are various types of acute (sudden) hepatitis (inflammation), chronic (long duration) hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis (scarring), and cancer. Cancers that affect the liver are most commonly metastatic cancers that have spread via the bloodstream to the liver from other sites in the body. However, primary cancers (cancers that arise in the liver) can also occur. The most common type of primary liver cancers are known as hepatocellular carcinomas. Viruses, drugs, and alcohol, as well as metabolic, immune (defense) system, and genetic (hereditary) abnormalities are the common causes of many liver diseases. But note that, contrary to a popular misconception, alcohol is only one of the many causes of liver disease. Moreover, sometimes the cause of the liver disease is not known.
How do liver diseases cause symptoms?
Acute and chronic liver diseases can interfere with the functions of the liver and thereby cause symptoms. However, the liver has a hefty reserve capacity. In other words, it usually takes substantial damage to the liver before a disease interferes with the functions of the liver and causes symptoms. Examples of such symptoms are:
- Jaundice (yellow skin) that can occur when the liver is unable to properly metabolize or secrete the yellow pigment bilirubin in bile
- Bleeding or easy bruising that can occur when the liver is unable to make enough of the normal blood clotting proteins
- Swelling of the legs with fluid (edema) that can occur when the liver is unable to make enough albumin and the serum albumin gets too low
- Fatigue that is of unknown cause, but may be related to some impaired metabolic function of the liver
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