This is hepar lobatum. There are two etiologies for this irregular nodular appearance of the liver. Classically, hepar lobatum is a manifestation of tertiary syphilis. The use of serologic tests for syphilis coupled with widespread antibiotic therapy for Treponema pallidum infections has greatly reduced the numbers of cases of tertiary syphilis. The second cause for hepar lobatum is metastatic carcinoma. On rare occations extensive metastases to the liver can be accompanied by a desmoplastic response that results in extensive fibrosis with scarring, leading to the appearance of so-called hepar lobatum carcinomatosum.
| Our winner is: prof. Paolo Boccato, MD,FIAC, of San Donˆ di Piave (Venezia), ITALY
| |
Return to the C.O.W. main menu.