title: Assessment of liver size by ultrasonography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine liver span sonographically in a randomly selected population sample and identify factors that affect liver size.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,789 subjects (963 females, 826 males; mean age 41.8 ± 12.8 years) underwent sonographic examination of the liver in the midclavicular line to determine liver span. Subjects underwent physical examination and blood tests and completed a standardized interview questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average liver span in the midclavicular line for the overall collective was 15.0 ± 1.5 cm; the average for females was 14.9 ± 1.6 cm and 15.1 ± 1.5 cm for males. Liver span exceeded 16 cm in 24.3% of subjects. Results of the multivariate analysis showed that, of the factors potentially influencing liver span, gender, age, body mass index, body height, fatty liver (p < 0.0001), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.015), and metabolic syndrome (p = 0.032) are significant. By contrast, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, physical activity, and laboratory findings showed no influence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonographic measurement of liver span in the midclavicular line is a simple method for routine clinical use. Gender, age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, body height, hepatic steatosis, and metabolic syndrome are factors associated with liver span.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patzak
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porzner
authors.forename: Suemeyra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oeztuerk
authors.forename: Richard Andrew
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Tilmann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graeter
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kratzer
authors.forename: Mark Martin
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Haenle
authors.forename: Atilla Serif
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Akinli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: liver; measurement; midclavicular line; span; ultrasound