Supradiaphragmatic Ectopic Liver: Delayed Traumatic Hepatic Hernia Mimics Pulmonary Tumor

Introduction

In the literature, ectopic liver (EL) has been described in supradiaphragmatic locations such as the thoracic cavities, the lung or even the intrapericardium. Intrathoracic EL is usually asymptomatic and found incidentally on chest roentgenogram as a radiopaque mass. Malignant changes in the ectopic liver have also been described without a primary lesion in the mother liver. Eleven cases of intrathoracic EL have been reported in the literature so far; in all of these cases, a definitive diagnosis could only be made with surgery. In this report, we review the mechanism of the supradiaphragmatic ectopic liver and recommend a better approach for this rare disorder.

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