When can Reidel's lobe be identified on ultrasound?

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Reidel's lobe is a normal variant where a tongue-like extension of the right lobe of the liver projects downward. On ultrasound, this appears as hepatic tissue extending below the inferior pole of the right kidney during normal breathing. That downward extension below the right kidney is the hallmark of the lobe, distinguishing it from other structures or masses. It is not typically associated with extending below the left kidney or the spleen, and it can be mistaken for a mass if not recognized. The key idea is that a pronounced downward extension of liver tissue beneath the right kidney during routine respiration identifies Reidel's lobe, making the statement that the liver extends well below the inferior pole of the right kidney the best description.