Journal Information
Vol. 54. Issue 8.
Pages 429 (August 2018)
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Ectopic Intrathoracic Liver Tissue
Tejido hepático ectópico intratorácico
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Carmen María Rodríguez Gómez
Corresponding author
mia_2612@hotmail.com

Corresponding author.
, Xavier Baldó Padró, Matilde Rubio Garay
Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
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During the examination of a 46-year-old woman for a second episode of right spontaneous pneumothorax, two right supradiaphragmatic nodules were observed on chest X-ray (Fig. 1A). Thoracoscopy was performed for resection of the apical emphysema, during which the non-friable nodules located in the central tendon of the right hemidiaphragm were biopsied. They were of whitish appearance, well-defined, covered with parietal pleura, and measured less than 2cm. Pathology findings reported liver tissue with mild steatosis, immersed in a fibroconnective tissue coated with mesothelial cellularity (diaphragmatic parietal pleura) (Fig. 1B).

Figure 1.

(A) Chest X-ray showing two right supradiaphragmatic nodules (arrows). (B) Hepatic tissue with mild steatosis, immersed in a fibroconnective tissue coated with mesothelial cellularity (diaphragmatic parietal pleura) (H&E 20×).

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Ectopic liver tissue occurs at an incidence of less than 0.5% and is detected as a chance finding from small pleural or subpleural nodules on a chest X-ray performed for another reason. Histopathologic confirmation is required for a definitive diagnosis.

Ectopic liver tissue behaves like normal liver tissue and, as such, may be affected by liver viruses, fatty degeneration, cirrhosis, hemosiderosis, or metastatic implants1; however, the absence of a complete vascular and ductal system, makes them more prone to developing hepatocellular carcinoma.2

References
[1]
D. Antoniou, M. Soutis, O. Karentzou.
Cystic mesenchymal hamartoma arising in intrathoracic heterotopic liver: a case report.
J Pediatr Surg, 47 (2012), pp. e49-e51
[2]
M.A. Huerta-Solís, J.M. Galicia-Ramos, R. Carrillo-Ruiz.
Hígado ectópico intratorácico izquierdo con cirrosis micro y macronodular.
Rev Mex Patol Clin, 57 (2010), pp. 143-147

Please cite this article as: Rodríguez Gómez CM, Padró XB, Garay MR. Tejido hepático ectópico intratorácico. Arch Bronconeumol. 2018;54:429.

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