Ectopic lesions in the abdomen and pelvis: a multimodality pictorial review

Abstract

Various ectopic lesions occur in the abdomen and pelvis and affect multiple organs including liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and organs of the genitourinary system. Ectopic organs may be present outside their normal positions, or ectopic tissues may develop while the original organ exists in its normal position. Both benign and malignant lesions can occur in ectopic organs and tissues. Owing to their unusual location, they can often be misdiagnosed as other lesions or even malignant lesions, such as metastasis or seeding. This multimodality pictorial review provides various cases of ectopic lesions in the abdomen and pelvis, which will help narrow the differential diagnosis and guide clinical decision-making.

Keywords: Abdomen; CT; Ectopic lesion; MRI; Radiology; US.