This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Examination

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The clinical examination in jaundiced patients should search for the features of acute and chronic liver disease.

The following points may be helpful:

  • haemolytic jaundice is a mild yellow colour; hepatocellular jaundice is orange; prolonged biliary obstruction imparts a deep greenish hue

  • cutaneous indicators of cirrhosis include purpura, spider naevi, palmar erythema, and loss of secondary sexual hair

  • cutaneous indicators of chronic cholestasis include scratch marks, pigmentation, finger clubbing, xanthomas

  • ascites suggests cirrhosis or malignant disease

  • hepatomegaly:
    • large, nodular liver suggests cancer
    • large, smooth liver suggests extrahepatic cholestasis
    • small liver may be due to hepatitis or cirrhosis

  • arterial murmur over the liver indicates acute alcoholic hepatitis or primary liver cancer

  • splenomegaly suggests portal hypertension due to cirrhosis

  • palpable gall bladder suggests pancreatic carcinoma

  • dark urine and pale stools suggests cholestasis

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.