LOBAR ATROPHY OF THE LIVER

Lobar atrophy of the liver due to causes other than liver tumor or liv er cirrhosis is a relatively rare pathological condition, and there ar e only a few reports in the literature, We report six such cases and t ry to evaluate the relationship between lobar atrophy and portal flow disturbance, The patients could be divided into two groups according t o the site of the atrophy: those with atrophy of the left lobe (two ca ses) and those with atrophy of the right lobe (four cases), The two ca ses with atrophy of the right lobe had hepatholithiasis in the involve d segments, but the cause was not determined in the remaining four cas es, In all six cases, portal flow disturbance was noted, including inv isibility of the portal vein in four cases, narrowing in one case, and portal thrombus in one case, Collateral circulation was not recognize d in any of our cases, Of interest is the mode of lobar atrophy. Atrop hy of the right lobe was always associated with marked enlargement of the left lobe, but that of the left lobe did not induce an enlargement of the right lobe.