J Korean Soc Radiol.  2016 Jun;74(6):399-402. 10.3348/jksr.2016.74.6.399.

A Case of Intrathoracic Ectopic Liver in a Patient without Diaphragmatic Defect

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Gangneung Asan Hospital, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Gangneung, Korea. ryu@gnah.co.kr

Abstract

We reported a patient with intrathoracic ectopic liver without diaphragmatic defect that was incidentally detected on chest radiography. Chest dynamic CT showed a subpleural mass abutting the diaphragm with isodense enhancement to liver tissue during arterial and delayed images, suggesting intrathoracic ectopic liver.


MeSH Terms

Diaphragm
Humans
Liver*
Lung
Radiography
Thorax

Figure

  • Fig. 1 A 37-year-old woman with intrathoracic ectopic liver. A. Chest radiograph showing a 3.5 cm sized mass (arrow) in the lower lobe of the right lung. The mass is ovoid in shape with smooth margins. B. Transverse unenhanced CT scan showing a lesion (arrow) with a density of 54 ± 4.3 Hounsfield units, similar to liver tissue. C. Chest CT with contrast enhancement showing mass with smooth margins (arrow) abutting the diaphragm and liver. The mass and liver are isodense during the arterial phase. D. Coronal reconstructed chest CT with contrast enhancement during the delayed phase showing a subpleural mass (arrow) abutting the diaphragm with isodense enhancement to liver tissue. E. Intraoperative view showing the 'mushroom-like' appearance of the intrathoracic ectopic liver (arrows) over the diaphragm. F. Histological examination, showing that the lesion is relatively well encapsulated (arrow), with histologic features similar to those of normal hepatic parenchyma (hematoxylin and eosin stain, × 40). G. One year follow-up coronal MRI with half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo showing a small amount of focal fluid collection of high signal intensity (long arrow) at the site of previous masses on a hypointense thin band of the intact diaphragm (short arrow).


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