Role of ultrasound in management of liver abscess

ABSTRACT

Ultrasonograms of proven liver abscesses in 44 patients were analysed. In ulltrasonography prior to otherdiagnostic approach, 38 patients(86.4%) were accurately diagnosed as liver abscess with correlation of clinicalsymptoms. The outline of abscess is smoothly defined. oval and round in 19 patients, irregularly and ill-definedin 25 patients. Only in 5 patients echogenic capsules are demonstrated. The internal echogenecity is variable;they are predominantly echo-free in 14, predominantly low-echo in 25 and predominantly echogenic, similar to solidtumor in 2 patients . 36 patients who were treated by medication only and combined needle aspiration had follow-up ultrasonography within 3 weeks since initial treatment. 33 patients were ultrasonically and clinically improved.Only one patients died of sepsis after needle aspiration and 2 patients were discharged without any sign ofimprovement.