Which term describes enlargement of the liver?

• A. Hepatopathy
• B. Hepatosplenomegaly
• C. Hepatomegaly
• D. Liveromegaly

Answer: (C)

Enlargement of the liver is described by combining the liver-specific prefix with a suffix that means enlargement. The term hepatomegaly fits this pattern, since hepato- (liver) plus -megaly (enlargement) literally means liver enlargement. This is the standard way to name the finding in a patient, and it’s used regardless of the underlying cause, such as hepatitis, fatty liver, or congestive heart failure. If both the liver and spleen are enlarged, the term used is hepatosplenomegaly. The other terms don’t describe enlargement specifically: hepatopathy means liver disease in general, and liveromegaly is not a recognized medical term.