Ectopic Liver Tissue on the Gallbladder: An Incidental Mass in Laparoscopy

Ectopic liver is a rare developmental abnormality. It is often asymptomatic and could be determined during the surgery. AIthough it could be detected in different areas of the body either below or above of the diaphragm, ectopic liver is usually found on the wall of the gallbladder. The importance of the ectopic liver came from the elevated risk of development of hepatocellulary carcinoma from ectopic tissue. Ectopic liver tissue could also mimic malign masses in radiographic studies. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsies could be helpful for preoperative diagnosis. Recently, widespread usage of laparoscopic techniques caused an increase on the description of ectopic liver tissues located on the gallbladder. Due to the potential risk of developing malignancy the resection of the mass should be the preferred approach for an incidentally or intraoperatively diagnosed ectopic liver tissue.