Multiple von Meyenburg complexes mimicking diffuse liver metastases from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Von Meyenburg complexes are benign liver lesions consisting of adenomatous bile duct proliferates. We present two patients suffering from esophageal cancer accompanied by the occurrence of von Meyenburg complexes. Preoperative computerized tomography (CT) of the liver had not shown these lesions. In one of the patients, diffuse nodular manifestation was found in both liver lobes, mimicking diffuse hepatic metastases. Intraoperative frozen section revealed the benign nature of the lesions in both cases. The patients underwent esophageal resection without complications. To the best of our knowledge, the coincidence of von Meyenburg complexes and esophageal cancer has never been reported before. This uncommon entity should be taken into consideration as a differential diagnosis of liver lesions in malignancies. It underlines the importance of intraoperative frozen section for liver lesions of unknown origin.