Beaver tail liver on pediatric chest X-ray

Area of Science:

• Anatomical variations
• Pediatric radiology
• Hepatology

Background:

• Beaver tail liver is a rare anatomical variant characterized by an elongated left lobe of the liver extending towards the spleen.
• This condition can be asymptomatic or present with various clinical symptoms.
• Accidental detection during imaging studies is common.

Observation:

• A 2-year-old asymptomatic child presented with an incidental finding of a left paracardial shadow on chest X-ray.
• Multi-slice computed tomography (CT) of the thorax and abdomen confirmed the shadow as a beaver tail liver.
• This case highlights the diagnostic process for this rare liver anomaly in a pediatric patient.

Findings:

• The study confirms beaver tail liver as a rare anatomical variant.
• Diagnosis in the pediatric population is particularly uncommon.
• Imaging, specifically CT, is crucial for accurate identification.

Implications:

• Increased awareness of beaver tail liver is important for radiologists and clinicians.
• Understanding this variant aids in accurate diagnosis and avoids misinterpretation of imaging findings.
• Further research into the prevalence and clinical significance of this variant in children is warranted.