Cadaveric study of morphology of caudate lobe of the liver in North Indian population

Abstract

The caudate lobe is a vertically elongated central projection from posterior surface of liver. It is bordered on the right by the groove for the inferior vena cava (IVC), on the left by the fissure for the ligamentum venosum, and on the bottom by the porta hepatis. It is continuous on the superior aspect with the upper part of the right limb of the fissure for the ligamentum venosum. The morphology of the caudate lobe was studied in 100 cadaveric human livers (15-70 years old) stored in 10% formaldehyde, regardless of gender, obtained from the department of anatomy at Santosh Medical College in Ghaziabad. The caudate lobe was observed in a variety of shapes. Vertical fissures extending upward from the lower border of the caudate lobe were seen in 52% of the liver specimens, while accessory caudate fissures extending downward from the upper border were seen in 9% and accessory transverse fissures were seen in 3% cases. Caudate notch was horizontal in 11% of liver specimens. The papillary process was visible in 27% of the liver specimens; a hook shape of the papillary process was seen in one liver specimen. Caudate process was present in 18% of the cases. Linguiform process was observed in 46% of cadaveric liver specimens. As observed, the incidences of morphological variations of the caudate lobe are very high, so it is critical for both radiologists and surgeons to keep these variations in mind when making diagnoses and planning surgeries for a favourable clinical outcome.