Torsion of a pedunculated accessory hepatic lobe: Cross-sectional imaging and histopathological correlation

Accessory hepatic lobes represent uncommon birth defects that usually remain clinically silent and are discovered incidentally. Torsion of an accessory hepatic lobe is a rare complication causing abdominal discomfort difficult to discern from other etiologies of acute abdominal pain. Cross-sectional imaging is utilized to detect the process and establish a treatment plan. This case study presents a 57-year-old female with acute epigastric pain radiating to the right upper quadrant. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging successfully identified an edematous, torsed accessory hepatic lobe. The patient underwent surgical resection of the torsed accessory lobe, and histopathologic analysis confirmed the process observed on imaging. Prior literature on imaging and histopathologic findings for accessory hepatic lobe torsion is limited. This report serves to describe key imaging features of this entity.