Logo American Journal of Case Reports

Call: 1.631.629.4328
Closed: National Holiday

Contact Us

Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports

10 April 2019 : Case report  Italy

Successful Diagnosis of a Longstanding Giant Amoebic Liver Abscess Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography (CEUS): A Case Report in a Western Country

Challenging differential diagnosis, Management of emergency care, Rare disease

Giuseppe Marenga1ABCDEFG*, Silvia Traficante1ABCDEF, Serena Ragonici1AEF, Claudia Vincenzi1AEF, Maura Rocchetti1AEF, Giuseppe De Rito1AEF, Giovanni Battista Fonsi1ABCE, Daniela Messineo2BCDG

DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.914378

Am J Case Rep 2019; 20:493-498

Abstract

BACKGROUND: E. histolytica liver abscess results from extra-intestinal diffusion of amebiasis, which is responsible for up 100 000 deaths per annum, placing it second only to malaria in mortality. Currently, the criterion standard for the diagnosis of liver abscesses is ultrasound, but CEUS (contrast-enhanced ultrasound) is emerging as a more accurate method for liver study, and it could be more accurate than ultrasound and non-invasive compared to CT.

CASE REPORT: A white man (59 years old) with a 2-day history of dyspnea, acute abdominal pain in right upper quadrant, and raised inflammatory markers was admitted to a second-level Emergency Department in Rome (Italy). He reported several trips to tropical areas many years before, during which he ingested non-potable water and became infected with Entamoeba histolytica. This was treated medically with success. After administration of antibiotics (meropenem and metronidazole), a liver CEUS (contrast-enhanced ultrasonography) with administration of SonoVue (sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles) confirmed a giant liver abscess (15×16 cm). One day later, CT-guided drainage was performed without complications and the patient was discharged on the 25th post-procedure day, with improved blood results.

CONCLUSIONS: Acute abdominal pain can be caused by a variety of diseases, but a diagnosis of parasitic abscess should not be overlooked in non-endemic Western countries. CEUS is a new, promising, and more accurate technique that can be utilized to recognize liver abnormalities, including abscesses; however, retrospective population-wide studies are necessary to define the differential diagnoses.

Keywords: Abdomen, Acute, Entamoeba histolytica, Liver Abscess, Amebic, Liver Diseases, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Ultrasonography, Contrast Media, Phospholipids, Sulfur Hexafluoride, Travel-Related Illness

Add Comment 0 Comments

In Press

Case report  China

Emergency Management of Cut Throat Injury: A Report of 2 Cases

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.946414  

Case report  Grenada

Extragastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Mimicking Appendicitis: A Case Study

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.944665  

Case report  China

Vision-Threatening Complications of Juxtapapillary Retinal Capillary Hemangioma: A Case of Retinal Artery O...

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.946514  

Case report  USA

Treatment of Post-COVID-19 Pulmonary Aspergilloma: Insights from a Clinical Case

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.946456  

Most Viewed Current Articles

21 Jun 2024 : Case report  China (mainland) 90,010

Intracranial Parasitic Fetus in a Living Infant: A Case Study with Surgical Intervention and Prognosis Anal...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.944371

Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e944371

0:00

07 Mar 2024 : Case report  USA 50,284

Neurocysticercosis Presenting as Migraine in the United States

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.943133

Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e943133

0:00

20 Nov 2023 : Case report  Saudi Arabia 25,908

Azithromycin Treatment for Acne Vulgaris: A Case Report on the Risk of Clostridioides difficile Infection

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.941424

Am J Case Rep 2023; 24:e941424

0:00

18 Feb 2024 : Case report  Japan 22,715

A Case of Thoracic Empyema Caused by Actinomyces naeslundii

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.943030

Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e943030

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923
American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923