title: Non traumatic liver herniation due to persistent cough mimicking a pulmonary mass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non traumatic liver herniation through a diaphragmatic defect is rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 44 year old woman presented with lower lobe opacity at the right lung. Chest Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a round tumor adjacent to the right diaphragm. Percutaneous needle biopsy revealed liver tissue. A small liver herniation through a diaphragmatic defect was detected in saggital and coronal CT views but no traumatic rupture of the diaphragm or endometriosis were documented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease and increased transdiaphragmatic pressure from paroxysmal cough due to aspirations may have provoked the diaphragmatic rupture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Failure Unit, G.Papanikolaou Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pataka
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Failure Unit, G.Papanikolaou Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paspala
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Failure Unit, G.Papanikolaou Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sourla
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Failure Unit, G.Papanikolaou Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bagalas
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Failure Unit, G.Papanikolaou Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Argyropoulou
keywords: GERD; Liver; diaphragmatic defect; gastroesophageal reflux disease; herniation; lung tumor