CONGENITAL HEPATIC HYPOPLASIA: ANATOMICAL, CLINICAL, AND DIAGNOSTIC INSIGHTS

Аннотация

Congenital hepatic hypoplasia, or liver hypoplasia, refers to a rare developmental anomaly characterized by an underdeveloped hepatic parenchyma. This condition may affect the entire liver or be confined to one lobe (typically the left lobe), leading to asymmetry and potential functional compromise. Although it is often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during imaging or autopsy, hepatic hypoplasia may also present clinically with portal hypertension, hepatopulmonary syndrome, or be associated with other congenital malformations. A thorough understanding of the embryological, anatomical, and pathological features of hepatic hypoplasia is crucial for early diagnosis, surgical planning, and differential diagnosis from more severe conditions such as hepatic agenesis or atrophy secondary to vascular insults.