RIEDELS LOBE OF THE LIVER - FACT OR FICTION

Riedel's lobe should be considered in all patients undergoing cross-se ctional imaging. Tt may harbor a lesion that might not be demonstrated unless the most inferior aspect of the liver is imaged. We have tried to identify the prevalence of Riedel's lobe in a series of patients w ith normal abdominopelvic computed tomographic (CT) findings. We revie wed the digital CT data of 105 patients, ages 20-89 years, to define t he position of the liver in relation to the costal margin and the ilia c crest. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of Ri edel's lobe between sexes. The proportion of individuals in whom the m ost caudal margin of the liver was inferior to the most caudal costal margin was age-dependent and increased to 65% in the 50-59 age group. The craniocaudal dimension of the liver decreased with age (P < 0.02). Riedel's lobe appears to be a common variant of normal anatomy, its p revalence being dependent on age-related changes in liver size and ske letal shape. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.