Liver abscess
Encyclopedia
A liver abscess
is a pus-filled mass inside the liver
. Common causes are abdominal infections such as appendicitis
or diverticulitis
due to haematogenous spread through the portal vein. With treatment, the death rate is 10-30%.
:
Abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue in which the pus resides due to an infectious process or other foreign materials...
is a pus-filled mass inside the liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
. Common causes are abdominal infections such as appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
or diverticulitis
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a common digestive disease particularly found in the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches on the outside of the colon...
due to haematogenous spread through the portal vein. With treatment, the death rate is 10-30%.
Types
There are three major forms of liver abscess, classified by etiologyEtiology
Etiology is the study of causation, or origination. The word is derived from the Greek , aitiologia, "giving a reason for" ....
:
- Pyogenic liver abscess, which is most often polymicrobial, accounts for 80% of hepatic abscess cases in the United States.
- Amoebic liver abscessAmoebic liver abscess-Clinicals:Symptoms* Pain right hypochondrium referred to right shoulder* Pyrexia * Profuse sweating and rigors* Loss of weight* Earthy complexionSigns* Pallor* Tenderness and rigidity in right hypochondrium* Palpable liver...
due to Entamoeba histolyticaEntamoeba histolyticaEntamoeba histolytica is an anaerobic parasitic protozoan, part of the genus Entamoeba. Predominantly infecting humans and other primates, E. histolytica is estimated to infect about 50 million people worldwide...
accounts for 10% of cases. - Fungal abscess, most often due to CandidaCandida (genus)Candida is a genus of yeasts. Many species are harmless commensals or endosymbionts of animal hosts including humans, but other species, or harmless species in the wrong location, can cause disease. Candida albicans can cause infections in humans and other animals, especially in immunocompromised...
species, accounts for less than 10% of cases.