Hepatic Amebiasis, Analysis of 56 Cases

The clinical findings in 56 patients with hepatic amebiasis are reviewed. This illness was most frequent in male black patients, 20–39 years old. The clinical picture is dominated by upper right quadrant abdominal pain, general malaise, pain on percussion of the right hypochondrium and tender hepatomegaly. Jaundice is not rare and appears to have no prognostic significance. The importance of early diagnosis is emphasized.     

Pancreatic Ascites

Pancreatic ascitis in a 31-year old black male is described. The diagnosis was suspected by the presence of pancreatic calcifications and confirmed by an elevated ascitic fluid amylase and protein content. Ascites was successfully treated by caudal pancreatectomy followed by a Roux-en-y pancreatojejunostomy.     

Hepatic Amebiasis—Analysis of 56 Cases

Laboratory and chest x-ray findings in 56 cases of hepatic amebiasis previously reported are described.
Anemia and an elevated E.S.R., frequently without an elevated leucocyte count, were the most frequent hematologic findings.
Abnormalities of liver function tests were mild and nonspecific. The most frequent abnormalities seen in chest x-ray were an elevated right hemidiaphragm whose motility on fluoroscopy was reduced or abolished.
These abnormalities may be of great help in diagnosis in endemic areas where more sophisticated facilities may not be available.