Ectopic or heterotopic liver (choristoma) associated with the gallbladder

A 43-year-old man with a history and symptomatology of hereditary spherocytosis underwent splenectomy and cholecystectomy for treatment of his underlying disease and of cholelithiasis. The removed gallbladder showed a serosal encapsulated nodule, supported by a short mesentery, measuring 11 x 6 x 4 mm, that histologically was an ectopic or heterotopic functioning liver. This nodule did not have any connection with the main liver. It is because of the comparative rarity of this anatomic anomaly that we are presenting a new case; a simple classification of these aberrant liver tissues, which are found in the wall of the gallbladder; the embryological development; and a complete review of the literature. We also stress the need to restore the term choristoma, now in disuse.