Abstract
IntroductionEctopic liver tissue is a rare entity, reported to occur in several intra-, retro- and extra- peritoneal sites, including the gallbladder. It is usually detected incidentally, during laparoscopy, laparotomy, or autopsy. Several possible mechanisms may explain the development of liver ectopia. Although ectopic liver tissue is usually asymptomatic, it behaves like orthotopic liver, developing the same pathologic conditions.Case presentationWe describe the case of a 54-year-old woman who was found to have a nodule attached to the gallbladder wall without any connection with the main liver, during an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstone disease. The nodule was removed with the gallbladder and identified histologically as normal ectopic liver tissue.ConclusionIt would seem sensible to resect the ectopic tissue if encountered during cholecystectomy for gallstones. Laparoscopic management of ectopic liver can be feasible.
Highlights
Ectopic liver tissue is a rare entity, reported to occur in several intra, retro- and extra- peritoneal sites, including the gallbladder
Case presentation: We describe the case of a 54-year-old woman who was found to have a nodule attached to the gallbladder wall without any connection with the main liver, during an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstone disease
It would seem sensible to resect the ectopic tissue if encountered during cholecystectomy for gallstones
Summary
Ectopic liver is a rare developmental anomaly in which liver tissue is situated outside the liver and has no hepatic connection [1]. We present a case of ectopic liver attached to the gallbladder wall, encountered during an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which was successfully removed with the gallbladder. A serosal encapsulated brownish mass, attached to the serosa of the gallbladder by a fibrous pedicle (figures 1,2), was noted intraoperatively and was excised with the gallbladder (figure 3). Gallbladder-associated ectopic liver is the most common location, and reports of size range from microscopic tissue to 3.7 cm [4,5]. Laparoscopic view of the gallbladder showing an encapsulated brownish mass attached to the serosal surface. The incidence of ectopic liver tissue attached to the gallbladder has been reported as low, but is likely to increase with the new diagnostic methods. The mass, measuring 15mm × 5mm × 7 mm, looked macroscopically like normal liver tissue (figure 4). The patient made an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged home 24 hours later
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