Cureus

. 2023 Dec 1;15(12):e49769.

 doi: 10.7759/cureus.49769. eCollection 2023 Dec. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38161555/

An Incidental Case of Morgagni Hernia With Beaver Tail Liver in an Adult

Ruthwik B Shankar ¹, Adheep B Amberker ¹, Vidyasagar Belgundi ¹

Affiliations expand

• PMID: 38161555
• PMCID: PMC10757734
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49769

Free PMC article

Abstract

Morgagni hernia is a rare congenital defect of the diaphragm, especially seen in children but rarely observed in adults. It occurs due to a congenital defect during the development of the diaphragm. Bochdalek hernia is a common congenital form of diaphragmatic hernia. Morgagni hernia is usually rare with a prevalence of approximately 2-3%. Beaver tail liver, which is also called sliver of liver, is a rare variant of liver morphology. Sometimes elongated left lobe of the liver can extend laterally across the midline to contact and often surround the spleen. A 46-year-old female from Karnataka complained of fever with chills and lower back aches for seven days with no history of chest pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. There have been no similar complaints in the past. She had no other comorbidities. She was a non-smoker and non-alcoholic. Biomass gas exposure for 20 years was noted as she cooked food with firewood. She was a housewife by occupation with no history of trauma or surgeries in the past. The general physical exam was unremarkable. The respiratory system was normal. Auscultation showed decreased breath sounds in the mammary area of the right side of the chest with normal vesicular breath sounds in all other areas. Per abdominal exam showed a flat abdomen. Umbilicus was central in position. There was tenderness in the right hypochondriac and epigastric regions with no guarding or rigidity. On examining the cardiovascular system, apical impulses could not be palpated and normal heart sounds were heard with no cardiac murmurs. Other systems examination was normal. Routine blood investigations were done, revealing hemoglobin of 11.6%, total WBC of 6270 cells, and hematocrit of 33.1%. The renal function test was within normal limits (creatinine = 0.7 mg/dl). A chest X-ray revealed a right lower zone, para cardiac well-circumscribed structure suggestive of a cyst with an air-fluid level inside. Chest CT was suggestive of a hernia in the anterior aspect of the diaphragm measuring 3.5 x 3.3 cm at the level of D9 vertebral body with transverse colon and omentum as its contents, ascending upwards into anterior and superior mediastinum for a length of 13 cm causing shift of cardia posteriorly and to the left (anterior midline diaphragmatic hernia – Morgagni hernia). A hyperdense lesion (Hounsfield unit = 64) measuring 1.3 x 1.8 cm was noted in segment seven of the right lobe of the liver, suggestive of a complex cyst. Beaver tail was noted in the liver. Morgagni hernia usually presents in younger age groups with respiratory symptoms. Its incidental detection in adults is very rare. In this case, the patient was having lower backache and no other gastrointestinal symptoms. The respiratory and cardiothoracic systems get affected because the intestinal contents herniating through the diaphragm shift the position of the cardia and the lower lobes of the lungs, which may have implications such as repeated cough and infections. Symptomatic hernias are usually detected in an early age group. It can present with symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction or acute chest symptoms or can even be asymptomatic. Treatment is primarily surgical repair of the hernia. This can be done either transthoracically or transabdominally. It is usually advised that surgical repair should be done even in asymptomatic cases as in this case, to avoid obstruction of the intestine or worsening of the hernia that is pulling the abdominal contents into the thorax.

Keywords: beaver tail; congenital diaphragm hernia; diaphragm; eventration of diaphragm; lung; morgagni hernia.

Copyright © 2023, Shankar et al.