Intrathoracic Liver Heterotopia: An Incidental Finding at Autopsy

Abstract

AbstractHeterotopia is the presence of a particular tissue at a nonphysiological site. The most common sites are gastric, pancreatic, and splenic heterotopias. While liver heterotopias are rare, intrathoracic heterotopias are much more limited. It is usually reported incidentally on imaging investigations or at autopsy. There is a high incidence of malignant transformation of heterotopic livers, and hence resection is always recommended. Here we report a case of heterotopic liver tissue in the right lung in a 42-year-old male, incidentally found at the gross examination of autopsy specimen of the lung.