The liver is a large, red-brown organ, made up of two lobes, that occupies the upper right-hand portion of the abdominal cavity. It lies immediately beneath the diaphragm, to which its upper side is attached. Its base is in contact with th stomach, right kidney, and intestines. Tucked within a depression on the underside of the liver is the gallbladder.

LIVER ABSCESS

Liver abscess is a localized collection of pus in the liver. The most common cause of liver abscess is an intestinal infection. Bacteria may spread from areas inflamed by diverticulitis or appendicitis and amoebe may invade the liver as a result of amoebiasis. Symptoms are high fever, pain in the upper right abdomen, and (especially in the elderly) confusion.

Ultrasound scanning usually reveals the abscess, and the organism responsible may be identified by examination of a blood or tissue sample. The abscess can sometimes be treated by aspiration (sucking out the pus through a needle), but often surgery is needed.

ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE

Alcoholic liver disease is a damage to the liver resulting from excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol-related  liver disease increases the risk of developing liver cancer.

The longer that heavy alcohol consumption goes on, the more severe the damage. The initial effect of alcoholic liver disease is the formation of fat globules inside liver cells, a condition called fatty liver, which is then followed by alcoholic hepatitis (liver inflammation). Damage progresses to cirrhosis (scarring of liver tissue), resulting in severe structural damage to the liver that eventually leads to loss of liver function.

Liver-function tests show a characteristic pattern of abnormalities, and liver biopsy (tissue sampling) may be needed to assess the severity of damage. There is no particular treatment, but abstinence from alcohol prevents further damage. Treatment for alcohol dependence may be required in some cases.

LIVER FAILURE

Liver failure is a severe impairment of liver function that develops suddenly (acute liver failure) or at the final stage of a chronic liver disease (chronic liver failure). Because the liver breaks down toxins in the blood, liver failure causes the levels of toxins to rise, affecting the functioning of other organs, particularly the brain.

Symptoms of acute liver failure develop rapidly; they may include impaired memory, agitation, and confusion, followed by drowsiness. The functioning of other organs may also become impaired, and the condition may lead to coma and death. Features of  chronic liver failure develop much more gradually. They include jaundice; itching; easy bruising and bleeding; ascites (swollen abdomen due to accumulated fluid); red palms; and, in males, gynaecomastia (enlarged breasts) and shrunken testes. Chronic liver failure may suddenly deteriorate into acute liver failure.

Acute liver failure requires urgent hospital care. Although no treatment can repair damage that has already occurred in acute or chronic liver failure, certain measures, such as prescribing diuretic drugs to reduce abdominal swelling, may be taken to reduce the severity of symptoms. Consumption of alcohol should cease in all cases.

The prognosis for sufferers of chronic liver failure varies depending on the cause. But some people survive for many years. For both chronic and acute liver failure, a liver transplant is necessary to increase the chances of survival.

LIVER FLUKE

Liver fluke is any of various species of flukes (flat-worms) that infect the bile ducts in the liver. The only significant liver fluke in the UK is Fasciola Hepatica, which causes the disease fascioliasis.

Fascioliasis has two stages. During the first stage, young flukes migrate through the liver, causing it to become tender and enlarged; other symptoms include fever and night sweats. In the second stage, adult worms occupy the bile ducts. Their presence may lead to cholangitis (inflammation of the bile duct) and bile duct obstruction, which cause jaundice. Treatment with an anthelmintic drug may be effective.

Source: A-Z family medical encyclopedia by BMA

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