Amebic Hepatic Abscess





KEY FACTS


Terminology





  • Localized pus collection in liver due to Entamoeba histolytica with destruction of hepatic parenchyma



Imaging





  • General feature




    • Most often solitary (85%), peripherally located




  • Ultrasound




    • Sharply demarcated, round or ovoid mass



    • Hypoechoic with low-level internal echoes



    • May see internal septa or wall nodularity



    • May see posterior acoustic enhancement




  • CECT




    • Typically hypoattenuating unilocular lesion



    • Peripheral rim or capsule enhancement



    • May see hypodense halo due to edema




Top Differential Diagnoses





  • Hepatic metastasis (post treatment, cystic, or necrotic)



  • Hepatic pyogenic abscess



  • Hepatic hydatid cyst



  • Biliary cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma



  • Infarcted liver after transplantation



Pathology





  • Entamoeba histolytica



  • Primary source of infection: Human carriers passing amebic cysts into stool



Clinical Issues





  • Right upper quadrant pain, tender hepatomegaly, diarrhea with mucus



  • Indirect hemagglutination positive in 90% of cases



Scanning Tips





  • Rule out pyogenic or fungal abscess, cystic lesions



  • Check for history of transplantation, ablation, or chemotherapy for liver tumor or metastasis, which may simulate amebic abscess on imaging







Graphic illustration demonstrates a unilocular encapsulated amebic abscess within the liver. Note the surrounding rim of edema and central anchovy paste consistency of contents .








Sagittal grayscale ultrasound of the liver shows a large, well-demarcated and encapsulated hypoechoic amebic abscess . The contents are heterogeneous due to floating debris . Also note the mild posterior acoustic enhancement .





Nov 10, 2024 | Posted by in ULTRASONOGRAPHY | Comments Off on Amebic Hepatic Abscess

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