DIAGNOSTIC AND MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN AMEBIC LIVER ABSCESSES

Abstract

In this study we present 70 cases of amebic liver abscess. 4 (5.8%) of the patients were female and the average age was 31,5. The most important clinical findings were pain (91.3%), fever (68.1%) and hepatomegaly (39.1%), X-Ray examination revealed pathological findings in diaphragm in 68%, radioisotope scanning of the liver was helpful in 94.25%, and ultrasonography in 80% of cases. The preoperative diagnosis was not correct in 32.1%. Various perforations were observed in 29 (41.4%) cases. The abscess was located in the right lobe in 85.5% and the average abscess volume was 1.350 cc. The patients were treated by early systematic transperitoneal surgical drainage and by auxilliary Emetine administration. The overall complication rate was 31.4% and the mortality rate was 15,5%.