Heterotopic splenic tissue in the liver of a swine

A heterotopic splenic tissue (HST) was observed in the diaphragmatic face of the right hepatic lobe of a 6-month-old, female mixed bred swine. Macroscopically, HST was a solitary, well-demarcated intrahepatic nodule, 1 x 0.5 x 0.5 cm in size. Other organs including original spleen showed no macropathological abnormalities. Histological findings of HST were essentially similar to those of the original spleen, receiving feeding blood vessels from hepatic portal vein. To our knowledge, the present case is the first report of HST in the liver not only of domestic animals but also of man.