Supradiaphragmatic liver

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 12 Jun 2019

Supradiaphragmatic liver has been reported as a very rare variant in liver morphology. 

In this variant, liver tissue extends into the right hemithorax through an opening in the right hemidiaphragm. The tissue is connected to the right hepatic lobe by a pedicle. In one report, the caudate lobe herniated into the thorax 3.

In some cases, hepatopulmonary fusion has been described 2 and is presumably the result of right-sided congenital diaphragmatic herniation.

The patient should not have a history of trauma, otherwise traumatic liver herniation through a diaphragmatic tear would be much more likely.

Differential diagnosis

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