Size of liver edge in full-term, healthy infants

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Clinical Pediatrics

Background:

• Accurate assessment of liver size in neonates is crucial for identifying potential health issues.
• Establishing normative data for liver palpation depth is essential for routine infant examinations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the normal range of liver palpation below the right costal margin in healthy, full-term infants.
• To assess the consistency of liver size measurements during the neonatal period.

Main Methods:

• Measurements of the liver edge distance from the right costal margin were taken at the mid-clavicular line in 367 healthy, full-term infants.
• Data were collected within the first 24 hours of life and again before discharge (72-96 hours of life).
• Infants with gestational ages ranging from 37 to 41 weeks were included.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in liver palpation measurements between the first day of life and before discharge.
• Liver size measurements showed no significant variation across different gestational age groups (37-41 weeks).
• The mean liver edge distance was 3.0 +/- 0.7 cm, with a normal range of 1.6 to 4.4 cm below the costal margin.

Conclusions:

• Liver size, as assessed by palpation below the costal margin, is stable in healthy, full-term newborns.
• Hepatomegaly should be investigated if the liver is palpated more than 4.4 cm below the costal margin.
• These findings provide a reliable reference range for neonatal liver assessment.