Snapshot quiz 20/7

Published: 08/25/2020

Authors: Karruseit VOL and Smit JH

This is the typical appearance of the liver with von Meyenburg complex. This is a developmental abnormality owing to intrahepatic ductal plate dysgenesis which causes multiple hamartomatous nodules. It is usually an asymptomatic incidental finding, but can mimic metastases. Von Meyenburg complex can be associated with acute cholangitis and, rarely, cholangiocarcinoma. In this patient, there was uncertainty during surgery because of possible colonic cancer metastases or biliary sepsis with abscesses. Biopsies of a nodule and of the liver parenchyma showed von Meyenburg complex and confirmed accompanying acute cholangitis.