The medical term for enlarged liver is: hepatomegaly. The liver swelling beyond the normal size is usually a sign that there are additional problems with liver function, but it can also simply mean that the liver is full of fat deposits. The liver is one of the body's critical organs. It lies on the right side of the abdomen and serves to rid the body of toxins and to produce enzymes that assist with blood clotting. When a doctor examines your body they will palpitate the stomach area and feel for an enlarged liver. Many people have no symptoms associated with an enlarged liver, but some will have a feeling of fullness in their stomach or some stomach discomfort where the liver is located. If that area is sensitive when you press on it, it is likely that you have an enlarged liver. The liver is unique in that it has no nerves and reproduces its own cells up to a point where it begins to dysfunction. This is why it is important to have tests run to determine the reason for the enlarged liver. The discomfort symptoms the patient feels are not coming from the liver, they are coming from other organs in the same area that are being squeezed by the enlargement of the liver. By the time the patient has actual liver symptoms such as jaundice which is yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eye, liver disease has developed. Causes of an enlarged liver can be Alcoholism, obesity, Diabetes, hepatitis, iron deposits, and side effects of some drugs. An enlarged liver can also develop because of leukemia, liver cancer, tuberculosis, and congestive heart failure. It becomes a major concern because rather than an actual condition, the enlarged liver is more of a symptom of these other diseases. Tests such as x-ray, blood tests, and biopsy will determine what the cause of the enlargement is. The patient can then take action to correct or treat the underlying disease.