Amebic liver abscess

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Liver cell death

Amebic liver abscess

Alternative Names:

Hepatic amebiasis; Extraintestinal amebiasis; Abscess - amebic liver
Symptoms:

Patients may or may not have symptoms of intestinal infection. Symptoms that may be present include:

Fever
Abdominal pain, particularly in the right, upperregion. Pain may be intense, continuous, or stabbing.
General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise )
Sweating
Chills
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Diarrhea
Jaundice
Joint pain

Signs and tests:

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These tests detect abscess in the liver:

Abdominal ultrasound
Abdominal CT scan or MRI
Liver biopsy - rarely done due to high risk of complications
Liver scan
Liver function tests may show abnormalities
A CBC shows elevated white blood cell count, indicating infection.
A serology for amebiasis is positive

References:

Wells CD, Arguedas M. Amebic liver abscess. South Med J. 2004 Jul;97(7):673-82.

Lingvay I, Aung, K. Amebic liver abscess. eMedicine. 2004 Nov; 2662. Available online at: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2662.htm. Accessed June 23, 2005.

Torre A, Kershenobich D. Amebic liver abscess. Ann Hepa tol. 2002 Jan-Mar;1(1):45-7.

Feldman M, Friedman LS, Sleisenger MH, eds. Amebic Liver Abscess. In: Sleisenger & Fordtran?s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 7th Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2002:1345-1346.