Amebic Liver Abscess Masquerading Like Pyogenic Hepatic Abscess: Get the Anchovy Sauce

Lee BT and Kaplowitz N

Department of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine of USC, USA

^*Correspondance to: Brian T Lee 

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Abstract:

Amebic liver abscess is an extra intestinal manifestation of an infection from the protozoan, Entamoeba histolytica. On the contrary, pyogenic hepatic abscess is a result of bacterial infection stemming from the bloodstream, biliary tract, abdominal cavity, or portal system. We report a case of a patient with an amebic liver abscess initially presenting as a pyogenic hepatic abscess. A 66-yearold man presented with three days of malaise, cough, and right flank pain. Initial Chest CT revealed two large lesions within the right hepatic lobe. A percutaneous drain of the inferior lobe abscess emptied thick anchovy paste-like material. E. histolytica IgG serology returned positive. He was maintained on metronidazole with the addition of diiodohydroxyquin for adjuvant luminal therapy. Although treatment is distinctive for each individual disease, it is prudent to initiate treatment for both, especially in the early management of severe illness until the diagnosis is confirmed.

Keywords:

Amebic liver abscess; E. histolytica; Protozoan; Pyogenic hepatic abscess; Hepatomegaly

Cite the Article:

Lee BT, Kaplowitz N. Amebic Liver Abscess Masquerading Like Pyogenic Hepatic Abscess: Get the Anchovy Sauce. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2016; 1: 1050.