The Beaver Tail Liver – description of a rare variant with a review of its surgical and radiologic implications

Abstract

Abstract We report a rare anatomical variant of left lobe of liver – the Beaver tail liver (BTL) /Sliver of liver, in a male donor of 29 years of age. The left lobe of liver extended from midline towards the left hypochondrium, went past the midclavicular line posteriorly to twist itself as a thin layer of hepatic tissue to encircle the spleen, on its usual ‘diaphragmatic surface’, creating an unusual ‘hepatic area’ on the convex surface of the spleen. Knowledge of this variant is important for the radiologist and the physician while interpreting lesions in the left hypochondriac region of the abdomen, especially in the setting of a left sided abdominal trauma or left lower rib fractures. Ultrasound and CT examinations of the BTL may mimic a subcapsular hematoma and caution must be exercised before diagnosing it as a splenic laceration leading to unnecessary surgical exploration. Knowledge of this variant is also important for the surgeon while surgically exploring the upper abdomen and also for choosing the appropriate liver tissue in a case of liver transplant.