Lever Size

[SUMAN-SAJAN]

What is difference between Liver span and the liver size?

We were taught in clinical posting that liver span is calculated by measuring the distance between the upper border,determined by percussion ,and the lower border,by palpation .

And liver size is the length of the liver that is enlarged below the costal margin , measured from the costal margin in midclavicular line.

BUT WHAT HUTHISON'S HAS STATED IS THAT THE HEPATIC SIZE IS 12-15 CM.
I am really confused and im sure if asked in end semester ill get it wrong .

So dear Xenomed users !
If u know the answer then please help me .

Regards,
Suman

[SPRimal]

hey Suman,

I think the liver span and size are synonymous, But not sure about this. If I know or be confirmed, I'll share with you.


but do YOu know, the liver span can be calculated by a different method too, Known as AUSCULTATORY METHOD,

read the following carefully.....





Clinically the upper border of the liver is localized by percussion. If there is cellulitis or injury to the thoracic wall or fracture of the rib(s) on the right side the percussion may cause pain. If the lower border of the liver is above the costal margin then it cannot be localized by the palpation method. These problems can be overcome by the auscultation method described below.

To mark the level of the upper border of the liver keep the chest piece of the stethoscope near the costal margin in the right midclavicular line. With the tip of the index finger on the skin at the top of the line make a horizontal rubbing movement. A faint scratch sound will be heard through the stethoscope. While making the rubbing movements move the finger downwards towards the costal margin. There will be a sudden increase in the intensity of the sound when the upper border of the liver is reached, because of the change in the consistency of the sound-conducting tissue.

To mark the lower border of the liver keep the chest piece of the stethoscope near the upper border of the liver, which has been marked earlier. Start the rubbing movements with the index finger at the level of the costal margin and move upwards. There will be a sudden change in the intensity of the sound when the lower border is reached.

To validate the accuracy of this method, the liver span in the midclavicular line was also measured by ultrasonography in 500 healthy children by Dr Rajan Wahi (Wahi's Central Diagnostic Clinic, Jaipur) using GE-RT-3600 (GE Medical System, USA) with 5 MHz sector transducer. In co-operative children the difference between the clinical measurement by this method and the sonographic measurement was less than 0.3 cm.

The liver span ranged from 3.5 cm to 7.3 cm in neonates, being larger in girls. It increased with age, reaching 8.4 cm to 12.5 cm in children 12 years of age; in this age group the liver was larger in boys.

source:Paul Yash
A-D-7, Devi Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur 302 016, India



ki kaso????

[Pal]

Originally Posted by SUMAN-SAJAN

What is difference between Liver span and the liver size?

Liver Span: The distance between the upper boarder of the liver to the lower boarder in the right midclavicular line. Span is a unit of length.

Liver Size: The word size may refer to how big something is i.e. how big liver is, in particular: Measurement i.e. length, width, height

http://medinfo.ufl.edu/year1/bcs/slides/abdomen/slide19.html

Originally Posted by SUMAN-SAJAN

And liver size is the length of the liver that is enlarged below the costal margin , measured from the costal margin in midclavicular line.

Hey this is not liver size, you are confused here, you are referring to the enlargement of the liver below the costal margin used in palpation of a liver to find out if there is any hepatomegaly or not.

[SUMAN-SAJAN]

Thanks PAl, thanks Sp.