Tuberculous liver abscess: a case report and review of literature

• Published in: European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 437 - 440
• Main Authors: RAHMATULLA, Rehan H, AL-MOFLEH, Ibrahim A, AL-RASHED, Rashed S, AL-HEDAITHY, Moqbil A, MAYET, Iqbal Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-04-2001
• Subjects: Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Drainage; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Liver Abscess, Amebic - diagnosis; Liver Abscess, Amebic - microbiology; Liver Abscess, Amebic - therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tropical medicine; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Tuberculosis, Hepatic - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Hepatic - therapy; Saudi Arabia; Asia; Infection; Case study; Human; Tuberculosis; Liver; Abscess; Bacteriosis; Digestive diseases; Hepatic disease; Mycobacterial infection
• DOI: 10.1097/00042737-200104000-00024
• EISSN: 1473-5687
• ISSN: 0954-691X

Tuberculous liver abscess is rare worldwide. We report a 45-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain, fever and weight loss. Ultrasound and computed tomography of the abdomen showed multiple cystic lesions in the liver. Ultrasound guided needle aspiration revealed yellowish brownish aspirate, which was flooded with acid-fast bacilli. The abscess was drained under ultrasound guidance. Subsequent abdominal ultrasound a few days later showed resolution of the abscess cavity. He was concomitantly started on systemic antituberculous therapy. A tuberculous liver abscess has to be thought of in the differential diagnosis of liver abscesses and to consider the role of percutaneous drainage along with systemic antituberculous chemotherapy as an alternative to surgery in the management. A greater awareness of this clinical entity is required for successful treatment.