SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-A Rare Anatomic Anomaly-Ectopic Liver Presenting as Right Atrial Mass

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This poster reports a very rare case of ectopic liver presenting as a right atrial mass. Ectopic liver is usually found within the abdomen, and supradiaphragmatic cases are uncommon; presentation as a cardiac mass in an adult is exceptionally rare, with only a few cases previously reported.<br /><br />A 45-year-old obese man with obstructive sleep apnea presented with 8 months of worsening exertional shortness of breath and one remote syncopal episode. He had no chest pain, orthopnea, palpitations, or edema. Physical examination revealed a diastolic murmur. Laboratory tests were largely normal aside from a small troponin rise. ECG showed normal sinus rhythm.<br /><br />Transthoracic echocardiography identified a 2.7 × 1.6 cm mass at the junction of the right atrium and inferior vena cava, along with a patent foramen ovale and normal left ventricular function. The patient underwent right mini-thoracotomy with resection of the right atrial/inferior vena cava mass and PFO closure. The mass was firm, brown, and rubbery. Histology confirmed partially encapsulated liver parenchyma, establishing the diagnosis of ectopic liver tissue.<br /><br />Postoperative recovery was uncomplicated, and the patient’s dyspnea resolved on follow-up.<br /><br />The poster emphasizes that right atrial masses are often found incidentally and are usually benign cardiac tumors such as myxomas. However, ectopic liver should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially when a mass is located near the high IVC/right atrial junction. Imaging cannot reliably distinguish ectopic tissue from cardiac tumors, so surgical resection is often performed due to concerns about embolic risk, malignant potential, and rare sudden death.

Asset Subtitle

Anupam Halder

Meta Tag

Author List Anupam Halder, Kripa Rajak

Category Clinical Vignettes

Concept Ectopic Liver

Concept Intracardiac Mass

Concept Histology

Concept Supra-diaphragmatic Location

Concept Intracardiac Location

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization UPMC Harrisburg

Presenting Author Anupam Halder

Track Adult

Keywords

ectopic liver

right atrial mass

inferior vena cava

cardiac mass

patent foramen ovale

echocardiography

surgical resection

adult case report

benign cardiac tumor

histology

Ectopic Liver

Intracardiac Mass

Histology

Supra-diaphragmatic Location

Intracardiac Location