Disproportionate left hepatic lobe size in the fetus: ultrasonic demonstration

The lateral segment of the left lobe of the liver is a useful window for abdominal sonography. An autopsy series suggested relative enlargement of the left lobe in infants and fetuses. The authors evaluated the relative size of the lateral segment of the fetal left lobe (L) compared with the remainder of the liver (R) in 89 obstetric ultrasonograms; the mean ratio L:R was 1.04. The same ratio was determined for 50 adults undergoing abdominal computed tomography, and the mean L:R was 0.76, which differs significantly from that in the fetus (P < 0.001). Normal values for L:R in fetuses and in adults may be useful in detecting a variety of hepatic diseases and possibly intrauterine growth retardation.