Liver Size in Childhood.

Abstract

Summary: In an effort to establish normal values for Nigerian children, liver span was measured in 527 healthy children, aged between three and ten years. As determined by percussion, the upper hepatic border coincided with the 5th right intercostal space in 65 percent of the children, while the lower border was at the right costal margin in 93 percent. The mean liver span ranged from 4.1 - 6.3cm and increased with increasing age. Age and height were found to be the major predictors of liver size (r = 0.59; p<0.001). Liver span was, not related to sex, weight, head, chest or mid-arm circumferences.