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Segmental anatomy of the liver: a review and a proposal for an international working nemenclature

  • Abdominal Radiology
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Abstract

The segmental anatomy of the human liver has become a field of increasing interest to radiologists during the past the past few years. The number of different terminologies which have been used since the topic has been systematically investigated is, however, a source of serious confusion. The present paper describes the reasons why the authors plead for an international working nomenclature which distinguishes a right hemiliver consisting of a right posterior and a right anterior segment, formed by subsegments 6 and 7, and 5 and 8, respectively, and a left hemiliver consisting of a left medial and a left lateral segment, the former corresponding to segment 4, and the latter to subsegments 2 and 3. This basic concept, however, must be carefully tailored to the highly variable individual anatomy of each patient. Furthermore, some aspects of hepatic segmentation are not yet understood and require additional anatomical investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Geneva, 1 Rue M. Servet, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland

    J. H. D. Fasel

  2. Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Geneva, 24 Rue M. du Crest, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland

    P. Gaillound & F. Terrier

  3. Department of Digestive Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, 24 Rue M. du Crest, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland

    G. Mentha

  4. Member of the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology, Department of Anatomy and Embroyology, University of Fribourg, 1 Rue A. Gockel, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland

    P. Sprumont

Authors
  1. J. H. D. Fasel
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  2. P. Gaillound
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  3. F. Terrier
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  4. G. Mentha
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  5. P. Sprumont
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Correspondence to: J. H. D. Fasel

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Fasel, J.H.D., Gaillound, P., Terrier, F. et al. Segmental anatomy of the liver: a review and a proposal for an international working nemenclature. Eur. Radiol. 6, 834–837 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00240684

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00240684

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