Enlarged liver lobe

I found a swelling or lump under the right ribcage and my doctor said it looked like a "floating rib".  He wanted to see why it was pushed out and ordered an ultrasound of the abdomen.  Everything looked OK except for an enlarged liver lobe.  He wants me to go for a CT scan of the abdomen to get a better look.  What can cause an enlarged liver lobe and "floating rib"?

[Bob368]

Many conditions may cause an enlarged liver, including:

1. Alcohol abuse. Abusing alcohol may cause an enlarged liver.
2. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This includes a range of conditions — such as fat accumulation in the liver followed by inflammation of the liver and the formation of fibrous tissue in the liver — which can affect people who drink little or no alcohol.
3. Hepatitis. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are all contagious viral infections that affect your liver.

You could have a fatty liver:

Fatty liver is just what its name suggests: the build-up of fat in the liver cells. Although this is not a normal condition, fat in the liver usually causes no damage by itself. On some occasions, it can be a sign that other more harmful conditions are at work. Fatty liver may be associated with or may lead to inflammation of the liver. This can cause scarring and hardening of the liver. When scarring becomes extensive, it is called cirrhosis, and this is a very serious condition.

Take care

Bob :)