Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Application of the En Bloc Concept Combined with Anatomic Resection in Laparoscopic Hepatectomy
Published on: March 10, 2023
Two cases of ectopic liver attached to the gallbladder wall
John Griniatsos1, Ali A Riaz, Alberto M Isla
1Upper Gl and Laproscopic Unit, Ealing Hospital, Southall, Middlesex, UK.
Background:
Ectopic liver tissue is occasionally found either attached to the gallbladder or elsewhere in the upper abdomen.
Case Outlines:
A 49-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were found to have a tongue of liver tissue attached to the serosa of the gallbladder (but separate from the liver) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones. The ectopic liver was removed with the gallbladder and was histologically normal in each case.
Discussion:
Several embryological hypotheses have been advanced to explain the development of ectopic liver. The anomaly is usually discovered incidentally at operation. Although the tissue is histologically normal.it can develop the same conditions as orthotopic liver.
Related Concept Videos
Cholecystitis
Gallbladder
The gallbladder's anatomy consists of three regions: the fundus, body, and neck. Extending from the neck, the cystic duct joins the common...
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not related to...
Gross Anatomy of the Liver
Located under the diaphragm, the liver is almost entirely ensconced within the rib cage, providing it with substantial protection. Except for the superior most bare area, the liver's surface is covered...
Appendicitis