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Posterior parahepatic cysts

Case contributed by Michael P Hartung
Diagnosis possible

Presentation

Flank pain.

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Male
ct

Three or four small (~5 mm or less), rounded nodules along the posterior right hepatic lobe at the level of the upper pole of the right kidney, closely approximating the posterior right hemidiaphragm. 

Hepatic steatosis. 

Annotated images

ct

Arrows indicated the location of one of the small posterior parahepatic cysts. 

Case Discussion

Posterior parahepatic cysts are a benign, incidental finding of a small cyst (or cysts) characteristically occurring posterior to the right hepatic lobe. They are not expected to grow or enhance. The major differential is diaphragmatic infolding (which is obvious on coronal/sagittal reformats) or retroperitoneal metastases (unlikely to be an isolated finding without mets elsewhere). Keep your eyes peeled, I'm sure you'll come across one soon!

Companion case

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