Hepatic abscesses

Hepatic abscesses are potentially lethal diseases if early diagnosis and treatment are not instituted. They are prevalent all over the globe and pyogenic abscesses are predominant over amoebic. With better control of intra abdominal and systemic infections by a spectrum of antibiotics, aetiology of pyogenic abscesses are secondary to interventions and diseases in the biliary tree to a large extent today. The common organisms isolated are the Gram negative group. Amoebic abscesses continue to plague some regions of the world where hygiene and sanitation are questionable.Over the years, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis have evolved remarkably. Imaging modalities like ultrasonography and CT scan have become the cornerstone of diagnosis. The absence of ionizing radiation makes MRI an attractive alternative in patients who require multiple follow up scans. Serological testing in amoebic abscesses has become more reliable. Though antibiotics have remained the principal modality of management, percutaneous drainage of abscesses have vastly improved the chances of cure and bring down the morbidity drastically in pyogenic abscesses. Amoebic abscesses respond well to medical treatment with nitroimidazoles, and minimally invasive surgical drainage is an option in cases where open surgery is indicated.     

隐源性肝脓肿临床特点分析

将我院118例细菌性肝脓肿按照病因分为隐源性肝脓肿（PLAC）组54例、胆源性肝脓肿组48例、血源性肝脓肿组16例,比较分析其临床特点.结果显示,PLAC发病年龄较轻,3组患者在临床表现及体征上差异无统计学意义.与胆源性肝脓肿组相比,PLAC组脓肿以右半肝多见（74.1％比54.2％,P＜O.05）,合并糖尿病者更多（40.7％比20.8％,P＜0.05）,合并非胆源性恶性肿瘤及慢性肝病者少见（分别为1.7％比18.7％、0比10.4％,均p＜0.05）,碱性磷酸酶升高率较低（11.1％比35.4％,P＜O.01）.细菌学特点上,PLAC组仍以肺炎克雷伯菌为主.3组在治疗方式、抗生素的疗程、住院天数、入院到确诊的时问上差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.     

阿米巴肝脓肿与化脓性肝脓肿

本文报告89例肝脓肿,其中阿米巴肝脓肿54例,化脓性肝脓肿35例。将两组肝脓肿病例从年龄、性别、病程、症状、体征,实验室检查、脓肿发生部位、并发症及死亡率等方面加以比较。本文还讨论了肝脓肿的诊断以及阿米巴肝脓肿与化脓性肝脓肿鉴别诊断的有关问题、     

抽洗法治疗细菌性脓肿

本文介绍了抽洗法治疗细菌性脓肿的优点及适应症与操作方法。     

细菌性肝脓肿治疗吸收后的特征性MRI表现

目的 评价细菌性肝脓肿治疗吸收后纤维化期的特征性MRI表现.方法 本组资料包括经影像及临床确诊为肝脓肿患者7例,其中男5例,女2例,年龄30～80岁.予患者抗感染结合介入抽吸/穿刺引流治疗后,门诊定期影像学复查.结果肝脓肿初期MRI呈不均匀长T1长T2信号,经治疗后肝脓肿T2信号逐渐降低.治疗3～7个月后MRI表现为：T1WI呈明显低信号,T2WI呈等信号,增强扫描可见轻度不规则条状强化.结论脓肿吸收后呈T1WI明显低信号T2WI等信号,为肝脓肿纤维化期的特征性MRI表现.     

Multiple liver abscesses with isolation of streptococcus intermedius related to a pyogenic dental infection in an immuno-competent patient

Introduction

Streptococcus intermedius - a member of the Streptococcus anginosus group - is part of the normal microbial flora of the oral cavity. Despite being regarded as a harmless apathogenic commensal, Streptococcus intermedius has been described to cause abscesses in various locations of the body.

Case Presentation

We report the clinical case and course of treatment of a 18-year-old male patient presenting with multiple hepatic abscesses associated with an untreated pyogenic dental infection.

Conclusion

Streptococcus intermedius can cause liver abscesses emerging from dental infectious foci even in previously healthy patients without underlying innate or aquired immunodeficiency. The case illustrates the potential danger and underestimated risk associated with untreated dental infections.     

Tropical liver abscess.

Forty-one consecutive cases of liver abscesses seen at the National University Hospital, Singapore from 1988 to 1994 were reviewed. Twenty-seven cases (65%) were pyogenic, six (15%) amoebic, two (5%) tuberculous and six (15%) indeterminate. The predominance of pyogenic abscesses is in marked contrast to previous studies from the region a decade ago in which amoebic abscesses were the commonest type. The commonest pathogen causing pyogenic abscess was Klebsiella pneumoniae. Two cases were due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and this organism needs to be actively looked for in smears and cultures of aspirated material. As the majority of organisms isolated were resistant to ampicillin, empirical antibiotic treatment for suspected pyogenic abscess should include gentamicin or a cephalosporin. Percutaneous needle aspiration of the abscess was performed for 85% of pyogenic abscesses and surgery was necessary in only two cases because of complications. We found that percutaneous aspiration of liver abscess is helpful to confirm the diagnosis, provides a better bacteriological culture yield, gives a good outcome, and may uncover clinically unsuspected conditions like malignancy and tuberculoma which may mimic the presentation of liver abscesses. We recommend routine cytological examination of aspirated abscess material as well as stains and cultures for acid-fast bacilli.     

穿刺抽脓治疗扁桃体周围脓肿的临床分析

45例扁桃体周围脓肿(PA)病例经穿刺抽脓法治疗,89%首次抽脓阳性,需复穿者仅33%,所有病例均痊愈出院,未见严重并发症.随访其中32例,3例(9.4%)复发患侧PA,10例31%发生慢性扁桃体炎.分析显示35岁以下组复发率显著高于35岁以上组(P<0.01),且复发病例大多数(77%)有既往发作史.结果表明穿刺抽脓法简单易行、疗效肯定,可常规用千治疗PA.基干本文分忻,作者建议预防性扁桃体切除术宜施于年龄35岁以下,有既往发作史的复发病例.     

Percutaneous debridement of complex pyogenic liver abscesses.

The author's approach and technique in the treatment of complex liver abscesses that persisted or recurred following percutaneous drainage are described. Six patients were treated by percutaneous debridement using an instrument specially designed for that purpose. Four patients were chronically ill but stable, while the other two were septic, hypotensive and considered to be life threatened. All patients had primary pyogenic abscesses. Four had demonstrated mixed bacterial flora consisting of E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus and gram-positive cocci and two were caused by E. coli only. Contrast enhanced CT of the abdomen in all cases revealed multiloculated or septated abscesses containing large central debris and peripheral shell or halo of compromised hepatic parenchyma. Debridement was successful in all cases, resulting in complete healing within 12 days. Follow-up for 1-4.5 years revealed no recurrences. Three cases of infected tumors of the liver were referred for treatment. CT findings in these cases demonstrated a well developed external capsule and internal septations, and the absence of a surrounding halo of compromised parenchyma distinguishes them from primary abscesses. This preliminary experience makes the authors to conclude that percutaneous debridement of pyogenic liver abscesses is a safe and curative procedure in selected cases of life-threatening chronic liver abscesses.

     

腹内脓肿的股臀部扩散(2例报道并文献复习)

报道2例经手术和细菌学证实的腹内脓肿的股臀部扩散。结合文献复习,讨论了股臀部脓肿中气体的来源、形成机制和扩散途径,强调X线检查在确定股臀部脓肿的病因和扩散途径中的重要价值。     

Hepatic abscess and cystic fibrosis

Extrapulmonary infection is rare in cystic fibrosis. We describe two adult patients with cystic fibrosis whose course was complicated by the development of liver abscesses. The possible aetiology of these abscesses is discussed and the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of pyogenic hepatic abscess is briefly reviewed.     

Hepatic abscesses in elderly patients mimicking metastatic disease

Background  

There is considerable overlap between the clinical presentation and radiological appearances of hepatic abscesses and hepatic metastases. The distinction is important given the treatable nature of hepatic abscesses compared with most forms of metastatic disease and the very high morbidity and mortality associated with untreated or missed pyogenic abscesses.     

不典型肝脓肿的MRI诊断

目的：分析不典型肝脓肿的ＭＲＩ表现及病理机制,增强ＭＲＩ的诊断价值。方法：３２个不典型肝脓肿经手术病理及临床治疗后证实,回顾性分析平扫和增强ＭＲＩ的表现,并与手术病理对照。结果：不典型肝脓肿有３种类型,５个（１５．６２％）为直径小于２．２ｃｍ的房腔型脓肿,增强后才能显示其脓腔及腔壁;１９个（５９．３８％）为纤维肉芽性脓肿,增强后呈明显的延迟强化,间以细小液化或凝固坏死区,８个（２５．０％）为实质性     

Liver abscess in the tropics: experience in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur

We reviewed 204 cases of liver abscess seen between 1970 and 1985. Ninety were found to be amoebic, 24 pyogenic and one tuberculous. The cause of the abscesses in the remaining 89 patients was not established. The patients were predominantly male, Indians, and in the 30-60 age group. The majority of patients presented with fever and right hypochondrial pain. The most common laboratory findings were leucocytosis, hypoalbuminaemia and an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase. Amoebic abscesses were mainly solitary while pyogenic abscesses were mainly multiple. Complications were few in our patients and included rupture into the pleural and peritoneal cavities and septicaemic shock. An overall mortality of 2.9% was recorded. The difficulty in diagnosing the abscess type is highlighted. The single most important test in helping us diagnose amoebic abscess, presumably the most common type of abscess in the tropics, is the Entamoeba histolytica antibody assay. This test should be used more frequently in the tropics.     

Management of pyogenic liver abscesses - percutaneous or open drainage?

This pictorial essay aims to review the literature on the management of pyogenic liver abscess, focusing on the choice of drainage. Articles on the treatment of pyogenic liver abscess, accessed through a MEDLINE search using PubMed, were reviewed. A case series of the authors' experience with clinicopathological correlation is presented to highlight the indication and outcome of each modality of drainage. Intravenous antibiotic is the first line, and mainstay, of treatment. Drainage is necessary for large abscesses, equal to or larger than 5 cm in size, to facilitate resolution. While percutaneous drainage is appropriate as first-line surgical treatment in most cases, open surgical drainage is prudent in cases of rupture, multiloculation, associated biliary or intra-abdominal pathology. Percutaneous drainage may help to optimise clinical condition prior to surgery. Laparoscopic drainage is a feasible surgical option with promising results in the future. Liver resection is reserved for concomitant localised intrahepatic disease and tumour, after control of sepsis. The final verdict on the outcome of percutaneous versus open surgical drainage of pyogenic liver abscesses requires further studies in a controlled trial setting. Nevertheless, in current good clinical practices, the choice of therapy needs to be individualised according to patient's clinical status and abscess factors. They are complementary in the management of liver abscesses.     

Sonographic Diagnosis of Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis in the Early Stage

（康斌）（朱通伯）（杜靖远）（刘基仁）（黄建华）ＳｏｎｏｇｒａｐｈｉｃＤｉａｇｎｏｓｉｓｏｆＡｃｕｔｅＨｅｍａｔｏｇｅｎｏｕｓＯｓｔｅｏｍｙｅｌｉｔｉｓｉｎｔｈｅＥａｒｌｙＳｔａｇｅ￥ＫＡＮＧＢｉｎ，ＺＨＵＴｏｎｇ－ｂｏ，ＤＵＪｉｎｇ－ｙｕａｎＬＩＵ...     

经会阴高频超声与腔内超声联合应用在诊断肛周脓肿及瘘管形成中的价值

目的探讨经会阴高频超声与腔内超声联合应用在诊断肛周脓肿及瘘管形成中的价值。方法使用经会阴高频超声和（或）腔内端式探头对103例肛门直肠周围脓肿患者进行检查井艮据病变发生的解剖部位、声像图特征进行超声分型。结果检查肛管和直肠近端时,发现肛门直肠周围脓肿共108处,位于前半周者65处（6019％）,位于后半周者43处（3981％）,其中Ⅰ型29处。Ⅱ型26处,Ⅲ型28处,Ⅳ型25处;合并内外瘘形成的Ⅴ型56例,其中多发性瘘管形成26例,手术中诊断为合并内外瘘形成68例,超声诊断准确率为8235％。结论应用经会阴高频超声和（或）腔内探头检查肛门直肠周围脓肿,能够区分脓肿和肛周组织结构的关系,分辨多数肛瘘内外口所处的位置,为临床术式的选择提供可靠的诊断依据。     

微创治疗细菌性肝脓肿的疗效分析

目的 探讨细菌性肝脓肿腹腔镜切开引流术和经皮穿刺引流术的适应证及疗效.方法 对外科处理的83例肝脓肿患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,比较细菌性肝脓肿腹腔镜切开引流术与经皮穿刺引流术的疗效.结果 两组患者年龄、性别、脓肿大小、数量、病程、术前白细胞计数、清蛋白、空腹血糖水平比较,差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).腹腔镜组手术时间较穿刺引流组明显延长,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);两组体温恢复正常时间比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);腹腔镜组白细胞恢复时间及住院时间较穿刺引流组明显缩短,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);腹腔镜组较穿刺引流组治愈率明显升高,复发率明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).两组患者经治疗后均无大出血、腹膜炎、腹腔脏器损伤、胆瘘等严重并发症发生.结论 腹腔镜肝脓肿切开引流术和经皮肝脓肿穿刺引流术均是微创治疗细菌性肝脓肿的有效手段,前者操作更加简单安全,后者治疗更彻底.把握二者的适应证尤其重要.     

Hepatic abscesses at the University Hospital of the West Indies. A 24-year autopsy review

A retrospective review of all hepatic abscesses identified at autopsy over the 24-year period 1977-2000 at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Kingston, Jamaica, was conducted. Post mortem and microbiology records were reviewed. Data collected included age, gender, predisposing factors, organisms isolated, number of abscesses and associated conditions, such as diabetes mellitus. Data for the adults was analyzed separately. Thirty-nine cases of pyogenic abscesses were identified from 7480 post-mortems. Thirty-three occurred in adults of mean age 59.5 years. Sixty per cent of the abscesses were solitary. Biliary tract disease was the predisposing factor in 33% of cases. Six per cent were cryptogenic: 11/33 patients were diabetic and these were significantly older than non-diabetics (p < 0.014) Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common organism isolated from diabetics (6.9). Only 2/33 abscesses were diagnosed ante-mortem. The abscesses in children were more frequently multiple and associated with extra-abdominal infection. Gram positive cocci were the commonly isolated organisms in children. There were no cases of amoebic abscess. The prevalence of hepatic abscess was low. Diabetes mellitus was a significant contributing factor. A high index of clinical suspicion is therefore warranted particularly in elderly diabetics.     

Previously-treated nasopharyngeal carcinoma with cystic lesions in the temporal lobe

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common malignancy in the Asian Chinese population. First-line treatment consists primarily of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with salvage surgery if recurrence occurs. Patients with this tumours frequently present years after radiotherapy with symptomatic temporal lobe cystic lesions and a diagnostic problem arises. The possible differential diagnoses include radionecrosis, pyogenic abscesses or tumour recurrence. A series of three cases of cystic temporal lobe lesions, with emphasis on their clinical, radiological and histopathological diagnostic aspects, are presented. The three cases presented consist of radiation necrosis, pyogenic abscess, and a case with both infection with tumour recurrence. The methodology of both clinical and radiological diagnosis are presented.