Radiological Findings of Falciform Ligament Necrosis: A Case Report

Hong Kong J Radiol 2020 Jun;23(2):e9-11

 

 

¹ Department of Radiology, Bartin Government Hospital, Bartin, Turkey

² Department of Radiology, Istanbul Medipol University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

³ Department of General Surgery, Bartin Government Hospital, Bartin, Turkey

 

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The falciform ligament is a sickle-shaped peritoneal ligament between the liver, the diaphragm and the anterior abdominal wall. Falciform ligament necrosis is a rare cause of right upper quadrant pain that is often misdiagnosed.[1] [2] We present a case of right upper quadrant pain caused by fatty necrosis of the falciform ligament seen during ultrasound exam and confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan. Very few cases have been reported and correlation between CT and ultrasound findings are rarely discussed.

 

A 35-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of our hospital with right upper quadrant pain, epigastric tenderness, and fever. He was referred to our radiology department with suspected cholecystitis. The patient and family history were non-specific. Physical examination revealed right quadrant tenderness and positive Murphy’s sign. There was no history of drug use. Blood tests showed increased white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels with normal liver function parameters. Abdominal ultrasound examination showed an echogenic non-compressible lesion located between the two lobes of the liver in the falciform ligament region surrounded by fluid. The gallbladder, liver parenchyma, and other components were normal (Figure 1) as were the intrahepatic and common bile ducts.

 

Figure 1. A 35-year-old man presenting with right upper quadrant pain, epigastric tenderness, and fever. Axial ultrasound image of the right upper quadrant with (a) linear and (b) convex probes showing a heterogeneous, oval, hyperechoic mass–like lesion surrounded by a hypoechoic halo at the falciform ligament region (arrows) with fluid anterior to it (arrowheads).

 

Abdominal CT scan demonstrated a low-density ovalshaped heterogeneous mass at the falciform ligament surrounded by inflammatory changes, fat stranding and minimal free fluid consistent with falciform ligament necrosis (Figure 2). Surgical intervention and excision of the falciform ligament was performed and confirmed the radiological diagnosis (Figure 3). The patient experienced no complications and was discharged after 3 days. Histopathological examination revealed haemorrhagic areas and fatty necrosis of the falciform ligament.

 

Figure 2. The same patient. Axial venous-phase contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography scans showing (a) a heterogeneous low-attenuation mass-like lesion (arrow) at the falciform ligament region with (b) a fat strand inferior to it (arrowhead).

 

Figure 3. The same patient. Macroscopic view of the surgical specimen showing necrotic fat tissue at the falciform ligament (arrow).

 

The falciform ligament is a sickle-shaped area of the peritoneum that divides the right and the left subphrenic compartments. It is a remnant of the ventral fetal mesentery that contains the paraumbilical veins, ligament teres, fatty tissue, and muscular fibres. Its arterial blood supply derives from the middle or left hepatic artery and drains into the portal or paraumbilical veins.[1] [2] [3]

 

Falciform ligament pathologies are rare. Inflammation or necrosis of this ligament can be seen in infants secondary to omphalitis. Other rare pathologies such as lipoma, cysts, leiomyosarcoma, lymphangioma, and paraganglioma have also been recorded.[4] [5] Rarely falciform ligament inflammation and abscess formation are seen as a complication of cholecystitis, or following instrumentation during laparoscopic surgery.[6]

 

Falciform ligament necrosis is a very rare cause of acute abdominal pain that is often misdiagnosed. To the best of our knowledge, very few cases have been reported in the literature and most had no accurate preoperative diagnosis.[7] Clinical presentation is similar to that of acute cholecystitis, perforated duodenal ulcer, and pancreatitis. Infection, torsion of the ligament, venous thrombosis and arterial embolisation are the main causes of this condition, as is septic thromboembolism.[8]

 

In recent years, there has been an increase in diagnosis of intraperitoneal fat tissue and falciform ligament pathologies due to the increased availability and use of advanced imaging modalities. Ultrasound and CT play a vital role in the diagnosis of falciform ligament pathologies. Ultrasound examination accurately reveals fatty necrosis of the falciform ligament. Use of a linear probe after convex probe in suspicious cases enables a clearer view of the ligament and may reveal an oval hyperechoic mass with a hypoechoic halo in the falciform ligament region. (Figure 1). However, solitary fibrous tumours, lipoma and ligament haemorrhage should be considered as differential diagnoses.

 

CT scan is a very specific imaging tool for diagnosing abdominal pathologies and their complications.[5] [9] Technical advances with multidetector CT allow multiplanar reformats and volume rendering. These reformats allow us to detect the falciform ligament in coronal sagittal planes and in the traditional transverse plane. Thin slices and multiple acquisitions allow more high-resolution images per tube rotation that be can be combined to create three-dimensional images and reformats, greatly increasing the diagnostic capability of CT scan. During CT scan, fatty necrosis of the falciform ligament presents as an oval fatty mass without contrast enhancement, with fluid and inflammatory changes around it.

 

Magnetic resonance imaging may provide an alternative imaging modality to diagnose falciform ligament pathologies. Using different sequences including the fat suppression ones enable differentiation between fat tissue, bleeding, and effusion.[7] Nonetheless its susceptibility to artefacts of motion and organ pulsation may limit its use in abdominal imaging.

 

Treatment is generally surgical excision although conservative treatment has been reported in some cases.[10] Our patient underwent surgical excision with no complications and was discharged 3 days later.

 

Fatty necrosis of the falciform ligament is a very rare cause of acute abdominal pain. Although it is easily diagnosed by ultrasound and CT scan, many clinicians and radiologists are unfamiliar with the condition. The falciform ligament region should be carefully examined in patients with right upper quadrant pain. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice although conservative treatment is successful in some cases.