Isolated liver tuberculosis abscess in a patient without immunodeficiency: A case report

Although hepatic tuberculosis is not a rare disease entity, tubercular liver abscess (TLA) is extremely rare. It is usually associated with foci of infection either in the lung and/or gastrointestinal tract or with an immunocompromised state. An isolated or primary TLA with no evidence of tuberculosis elsewhere is even rarer. We report on a 28 year old man who developed an isolated tuberculous liver abscess not associated with lung involvement. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showed the abscess lesions in the liver but the diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by histological examination of the wall of the abscess after surgical drainage. Although tuberculous liver abscess is very rare, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of abscess and unknown hepatic mass lesions.     

Tuberculous liver abscess: a case report and review of literature

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.     

Successful treatment of liver abscess secondary to foreign body penetration of the alimentary tract: A case report and literature review

Hepatic abscess caused by foreign body penetration of the alimentary tract is rare.We report a case of gastric antrum penetration due to a toothpick complicated by liver abscess formation.A 41-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of upper abdominal pain for 2 mo.Esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed at a local clinic revealed a toothpick penetrating the gastric antrum.Computed tomography(CT)of the abdomen at our hospital revealed a gastricforeign body embedded in the posterior wall of gastric antrum with regional phlegmon over the lesser sac and adhesion to the pancreatic body without notable vascular injury,and a hepatic abscess seven cm in diameter over the left liver lobe.Endoscopic removal of the foreign body was successfully performed without complication.The liver abscess was treated with parenteral antibiotics without drainage.The patient’s recovery was uneventful.Abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated complete resolution of the hepatic abscess six months after discharge.Relevant literature from the PubMed database was reviewed and the clinical presentations,diagnostic modalities,treatment strategies and outcomes of 88 reported cases were analyzed.The results showed that only 6 patients received conservative treatment with parenteral antibiotics,while the majority underwent either image-guided abscess drainage or laparotomy.Patients receiving abscess drainage via laparotomy had a significantly shorter length of hospitalization compared with those undergoing imageguided drainage.There was no significant difference in age between those who survived and those who died,however,the latter presented to hospitals in a more critical condition than the former.The overall mortality rate was 7.95%.     

A case of hepaticoduodenal fistula development after transarterial chemoembolization in patient with hepatocellular carcinoma

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended as one of the first line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Rupture of HCC following TACE is a rare and potentially fatal complication. We report a case of hepaticoduodenal fistula with ruptured HCC and liver abscess complicated by TACE. A 52-year-old male was treated by TACE three times, followed by radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy. 30 days after the last TACE, right upper quadrant pain of abdomen was developed. About 1 month later, computed tomography of abdomen showed ruptured HCC with debris containing liver abscess and hepaticoduodenal fistula. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed hepaticoduodenal fistula and hepatic parenchyme covered with exudate. The patient was managed with supportive care, but the hepaticoduodenal fistula persisted. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2011;58:149-152).     

Metastatic abscess formation in a preexisting chest wall tumor: a rare initial presentation of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess

The common infectious agents in the chest wall include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Actinomyces, fungi, Nocardia, Entamoeba histolytica, and other aerobes and anaerobes. Klebsiella pneumoniae is an uncommon etiological agent. We describe a case of ankylosing spondylitis in a 45-year-old man, who had exhibited a painless lump in the left posterior chest wall for 3 months and who presented with acute-onset pain, erythematous change, and fever in the 2 weeks before admission. Cultures of the blood and chest wall abscess both showed Gram-negative bacilli, which were classified as K. pneumoniae. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a nonenhancing cystic abscess measuring 4.9 × 6.5 × 6.4 cm in segment 6 of the liver and communicating with the chest wall. Drainage of the liver abscess under ultrasound guidance and open surgical drainage of the chest wall abscess combined with adequate antibiotic treatment resolved the abscess.     

Unusual complication of amebic liver abscess: Hepatogastric fistula

Amebic liver abscess is a parasitic disease which is often encountered in tropical countries. A hepatogastric fistula secondary to an amebic liver abscess is a rare complication of this disease and there are only a handful of reported cases in literature. Here we present a case of an amebic liver abscess which was complicated with the development of a hepatogastric fistula. The patient presented with the Jaundice, pain and distension of abdomen. The Jaundice and pain improved partially after he had an episode of brownish black colored increase in frequency of stools for 5 to 6 d. Patient also had ascites and anemia. He was a chronic alcohol drinker. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed in view of the above findings. It showed a fistulous opening with bilious secretions along the lesser curvature of the stomach. On imaging multiple liver abscesses seen including one in sub capsular location. The patient was managed conservatively with antiamebic medications along with proton pump inhibitors. The pigtail drainage of the sub capsular abscess was done. The patient improved significantly. The repeat endoscopy performed after about two months showed reduction in fistula size. A review of the literature shows that hepatogastric fistulas can be managed conservatively with medications and drainage, endoscopically with biliary stenting or with surgical excision.     

Utility of stool CBNAAT in the diagnosis of pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis in India

BackgroundIndia houses 27% of the tuberculosis cases worldwide. Pediatric tuberculosis accounts for 11% cases worldwide. Microbiological confirmation of diagnosis is difficult in children. We aimed to study the proportion of Stool CBNAAT (Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) and GA CBNAAT positive cases among the presumptive cases of tuberculosis in children and assess diagnostic utility of the Stool CBNAAT in comparison to GA CBNAAT and culture.MethodsOurs was a cross sectional study. 75 children, aged 6 months to 12 years who were presumptive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and who were unable to expectorate, were enrolled. Gastric aspirate and stool samples were obtained and CBNAAT and culture was done. Results of stool CBNAAT were compared with GA CBNAAT and culture.ResultsOf the 75 children enrolled, 28 were started on antitubercular therapy, 12 of whom were microbiologically confirmed and 16 were started on clinical grounds. Overall, 10 (13.3%) and 11 (14.6%) were positive by Stool CBNAAT and GA CBNAAT respectively. GA CBNAAT and Stool CBNAAT were found to have near perfect agreement (Cohen's kappa 0.834). Stool CBNAAT had sensitivity and specificity of 73% and 97% as compared to culture.ConclusionsStool CBNAAT may be used for bacteriological confirmation of pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis. It was found to have a high degree of concordance with the conventionally used GA CBNAAT. This test would be helpful in endemic countries where there is a dearth of trained staff, especially in the periphery, to obtain gastric aspirate. Discomfort associated with sampling would be avoided.     

A Gas-forming Liver Abscess with Massive Bleeding into the Abscess Cavity Due to a Ruptured Inferior Phrenic Artery

An 88-year-old woman developed a huge abscess, forming an air-fluid level in the right lobe of the liver. A pigtail catheter was placed and drained thick pus with putrid odor from the abscess cavity. Gram-positive rods were detected in the pus, which were subsequently determined to be Clostridium perfringens by culture. She developed hemorrhaging in the abscess cavity when the right inferior phrenic artery was damaged by inflammation that had spread from the abscess. Emergency transarterial embolization with gelatin sponges was performed, and the bleeding ceased. We herein report a rare case of liver abscess that caused inferior phrenic artery injury, resulting in bleeding.     

Septic endophthalmitis and meningitis associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess

We report a female case of septic endophthalmitis and meningitis associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess which was thought to be caused by duodeno-biliary reflux related to choledochoduodenostomy. We treated this patient by ultrasonography-guided percutaneous abscess drainage and intravenous administration of third generation antibiotics. However, the visual function of her left eye was eventually lost. Reports of liver abscess with metastatic lesions are rare, and our experience suggests that more physicians should be alert to septic metastatic lesions such as K. pneumoniae liver abscess or bacteremia with complaints of ocular or central nervous system symptoms.     

Treatment of amoebic liver abscess with metronidazole alone or in combination with ultrasound-guided needle aspiration: a comparative, prospective and randomized study

Thirty-nine patients with amoebic liver abscess (ALA), admitted to the Central Hospital of Hué (Vietnam), were evaluated in a comparative, prospective and randomized study for the treatment of ALA. Adult patients with an abscess located in the right liver lobe and an abscess diameter of 6 to 10 cm were included. Bacterial abscesses were excluded by microbiological examination of abscess fluid in all patients. Nineteen patients were treated with metronidazole for 10 days alone and 20 patients were punctured under ultrasound guidance with aspiration of abscess fluid in addition to drug administration. The clinical symptoms fever, pain in right upper abdomen and liver tenderness, and the laboratory parameters erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cells, haemoglobin and C-reactive protein and the abscess size were determined on the day of admission and followed during an observation period of 38 days. Improvement of liver tenderness was significantly faster in the aspiration group during the first 3 days (P < 0.001), whereas all the other parameters showed no differences between the two groups. This minor benefit is obviously not sufficient to justify routine needle aspiration and advocates drug treatment alone for uncomplicated amoebic liver abscesses with a diameter up to 10 cm located in the right liver lobe.     

Comparison of conventional diagnostic methods with molecular method for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

BackgroundTuberculosis remains one of the deadliest communicable diseases. Prompt diagnosis of active tuberculosis cases facilitates timely therapeutic intervention and minimizes the community transmission. Although conventional microscopy has low sensitivity, still it remains the corner stone for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in high burden countries like India. On the other hand, Nucleic acid amplification techniques due to their rapidity and sensitivity, not only help in early diagnosis and management of tuberculosis but also curtail the transmission of the disease. This study therefore was aimed at assessing the diagnostic performance of Microscopy by Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) and Auramine Staining (AO) with Gene Xpert/CBNAAT (Cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test) in the diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.MethodsA prospective comparative study was done on the sputum samples of 1583 adult patients from November 2018 to May 2020 suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis as per NTEP criteria visiting the Designated Microscopic Centre of SGT Medical College, Budhera, Gurugram. Each sample was subjected to ZN staining, AO staining, and was run on CBNAAT as per National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) guidelines. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV and Area under the curve of ZN microscopy and Fluorescent Microscopy were calculated taking CBNAAT as reference in absence of culture.ResultsOut of the 1583 samples studied, 145 (9.15%) and 197 (12.44%) were positive by ZN and AO staining methods respectively. By CBNAAT 246 (15.54%) samples were positive for M. tuberculosis. AO was also able to detect more pauci-bacillary cases than ZN. While CBNAAT detected M. tuberculosis in 49 sputum samples which were missed by both methods of microscopy. On the other hand there were 9 samples which were positive for AFB by both the smear microscopy techniques but M. tuberculosis was not detected by CBNAAT, these were considered as Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria. Seventeen samples were resistant to rifampicin.ConclusionAuramine Staining technique is more sensitive and less time consuming for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis as compared to the conventional ZN Staining. CBNAAT can be a useful tool for early diagnosis of patients with high clinical suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis and detecting rifampicin resistance.     

Multiple pyogenic liver abscesses caused by Streptococcus constellatus in the Amazon region. Case report

There are few studies reporting pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) caused by Streptococcus constellatus in the medical literature. S. constellatus is a comensal microorganism that belongs to the Streptococcus milleri’s bacteria group and is not considered to be pathogenic for humans. We report the case of a 23-year-old man with a 15-days history of abdominal pain in the right flank followed by daily fever, chills, nausea, vomits, sialism and jaundice. Physical examination revealed moderate jaundice (2+/4+), abdominal distention, generalized pain and tender over the right flank with positive Blumberg’s sign. Additionally, the liver was palpable 5 cm below the costal margin in the right midclavicular line. Abdominal Computerized Tomography showed multiple hypodense hepatic images suggestive of liver abscesses. The patient underwent surgical exploration of the abdomen through a sub-costal incision and, during operation ruptured abscess localized on the hepatic segment III was drained. Culture of the purulent material obtained at surgery yielded Streptococcus constellatus as the causative agent. Liver abscess is a potential life-threatening disease that must be treated as soon as possible with invasive approaches, if necessary, and bacteriological studies performed when possible, allowing isolation of causative agents and specific antibiotic therapy.     

Case Report: Acute Abdomen Caused by Brucellar Hepatic Abscess

Brucellosis, a zoonosis that is common worldwide, is endemic in many countries, primarily those of the Mediterranean region (including Turkey). Human brucellosis is a systemic infection with a wide clinical spectrum. Although hepatic involvement is very common during the course of chronic brucellosis, hepatic abscess is a very rare complication of Brucella spp. infection. We present a case of hepatic abscess caused by Brucella melitensis, which resembled the clinical presentation of surgical acute abdomen.     

The clinical utility of cycle of threshold value of GeneXpert MTB/RIF (CBNAAT) and its diagnostic accuracy in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary samples at a tertiary care center in India

Background

There are knowledge gaps in the in-depth analysis of the most promising and robust diagnostic tool, GeneXpert MTB/RIF (CBNAAT). The cycle of threshold (CT) value of the CBNAAT test and its clinical implications has not been explored much.

Hepatobiliary fascioliasis in non-endemic zones: A surprise diagnosis

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic infection caused by Fasciola hepatica. Because of population migration and international food trade, human fascioliasis is being an increasingly recognised entity in nonendemic zones. In most parts of Asia, hepatobiliary fascioliasis is sporadic. Human hepatobiliary infection by this trematode has two distinct phases: an acute hepatic phase and a chronic biliary phase. Hepatobiliary infection is mostly associated with intense peripheral eosinophilia. In addition to classically defined hepatic phase and biliary phase fascioliasis, some cases may have an overlap of these two phases. Chronic liver abscess formation is a rare presentation. We describe a surprise case of hepatobiliary fascioliasis who presented to us with liver abscess without intense peripheral eosinophilia, a rare presentation of human fascioliasis especially in non-endemic zones.     

A prediction model for liver abscess developing after transarterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundLiver abscess is a rare but potentially fatal complication of transarterial chemoembolization. Other than for biliary abnormalities, risk factors for liver abscess formation after transarterial chemoembolization have rarely been discussed.AimsTo identify other risk factors of liver abscess after transarterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodsData for 5299 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization from July 1999 to December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. 72 patients who experienced liver abscess after transarterial chemoembolization were enrolled as a case group, which was compared with a randomly selected control group (n = 1009) of patients who did not develop liver abscess after transarterial chemoembolization.ResultsPneumobilia, type 2 biliary abnormality, type 1 biliary abnormality, diabetes mellitus, tumour number (≥3), tumour size (≥3 cm), and tumour necrosis on the pre-transarterial chemoembolization computed tomography, and gelfoam embolization and vessel injury during transarterial chemoembolization were all significant predisposing factors for liver abscess after transarterial chemoembolization. A prediction model for postembolization liver abscess was developed from these risk factors.ConclusionThe group of patients with risk scores greater than 71 showed a significantly increased risk of liver abscess after transarterial chemoembolization. These high-risk patients should be monitored carefully after transarterial chemoembolization.     

Tuberculous liver abscess not associated with lung involvement

Hepatic tuberculosis is one of the uncommon forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. We report a 78-year-old woman who developed tuberculous liver abscesses with splenic abscess not associated with pulmonary foci. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showed the low-density lesions in the liver and spleen. Histopathology of specimens obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy revealed coagulation necrosis and epithelioid cells but not tumor cells, suggesting tuberculosis infection in the liver and spleen. Systemic chemotherapy with anti-tuberculous agents led to the improvement of the lesions in the liver as well as spleen. Although tuberculous liver abscess is a very rare case, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of unknown hepatic mass lesions.     

Effect of time,temperature and pH on Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture positivity of gastric aspirate: An experimental study

BackgroundThe culture of gastric aspirate (GA) has been used for bacteriological confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis in children and patients who are unable to expectorate. Sodium bicarbonate neutralization of gastric aspirates is commonly recommended to increase culture positivity. We aim to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) culture positivity of GA collected from confirmed case of pulmonary tuberculosis after storing it at different temperature, pH & time.MethodsGA specimens from 865 patients of either sex predominately non-expectorating children/adults with suspected pulmonary TB were collected. Gastric lavage was performed in the morning after an overnight fasting (at least 6hrs fasting). The GA specimens were tested by CBNAAT (GeneXpert) and AFB microscopy & those who were positive on CBNAAT were further processed with MTB culture on Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT™) culture. pH neutralized and non-neutralized CBNAAT positive GA specimens were culture within 2 hours of collection and 24 hours after storage at 4 °C & room temperature.ResultsMTB was detected in 6.8% of collected GA specimens by CBNAAT. Culture positivity of neutralized GA specimens when processed within 2 hours of collection, was higher compared to paired non-neutralized GA specimens. Neutralized GA specimens had higher contamination rate than non-neutralized GA specimens. Storage of GA specimens at $Deg C had better culture yield than those stored at room temperature.ConclusionEarly neutralization of acid in Gastric aspirate (GA) is essential for better culture positivity of M. tuberculosis (MTB). If there is a delay in processing GA, it should be kept at 4 °C after neutralization; however, positivity decreases with time.     

Klebsiella pneumoniae invasive liver abscess syndrome with purulent meningitis and septic shock: A case from mainland China

We present a rare case of invasive liver abscess syndrome due to Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) with metastatic meningitis and septic shock. A previously healthy, 55-year-old female patient developed fever, liver abscess, septic shock, purulent meningitis and metastatic hydrocephalus. Upon admission, the clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging examinations were compatible with a diagnosis of K. pneumoniae primary liver abscess. Her distal metastasis infection involved meningitis and hydrocephalus, which could flare abruptly and be life threatening. Even with early adequate drainage and antibiotic therapy, the patient’s condition deteriorated and she ultimately died. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of K. pneumoniae invasive liver abscess syndrome with septic meningitis reported in mainland China. Our findings reflect the need for a better understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, complications, comorbid medical conditions and treatment of this disease.     

Pneumoperitoneum caused by ruptured gas-containing liver abscess

An 84-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with high fever, and she suddenly complained of severe abdominal pain the next day. Computed tomography revealed a gas-containing abscess in the lateral segment of the liver, with spontaneous pneumoperitoneum. An emergency lateral segmentectomy was performed, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was cultured from the liver tissue, abscess, and blood. The patient made a satisfactory recovery and was discharged on the thirty-first postoperative day. Pneumoperitoneum caused by the rupture of a gas-containing liver abscess is rare, and to our best knowledge, this is the first report, in the English-language literature, of a patient who has undergone successful hepatectomy for such a condition.