Scintigraphy in evaluation of the hypoplastic right hepatic lobe: a rare variant

A rare variant of right hepatic lobe hypoplasia associated with high gallbladder position in the right upper abdomen is described. Pain is frequent and may be due to cholelithiasis. It is important to recognize this variant because an associated hypertrophic left hepatic lobe can clinically masquerade as an abdominal mass. Radionuclide studies and abdominal computerized tomography are useful in defining the hypertrophied left hepatic lobe and ectopic gallbladder. The duodenum and hepatic flexure are positioned high due to space left by the hypoplastic right lobe.