Unusual Cause of Right Upper Quadrant Pain: Hepatic Amoebic Abscess

A 66-year-old female, with no significant history, presented with a two-week history of right upper quadrant pain and chills. Her temperature was 36.8°C, and other vital signs were within normal limits. Physical examination revealed tenderness to palpation in the right upper quadrant.

Laboratory tests showed leukocytosis (12.6×10³ uL), elevated C-reactive protein (45 mg/L), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (38 mm/h), procalcitonin (0.06 ng/mL). Liver enzymes were slightly elevated (AST: 35 U/L, ALT: 48 U/L, and ALP: 162 U/L).

A computed tomography scan revealed a thick-walled cystic lesion with surrounding edema in the right lobe of the liver (Figure 1). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to confirm the diagnosis. It showed the abscess with its characteristic thick enhancing wall and diffusion-restricting content (Figure 2, 3).

FIGURE 1:
Computed tomography showing a thick-walled hypodense cystic lesion (blue arrows) with surrounding edema (red arrow).

FIGURE 2:
Magnetic resonance imaging scan showing a A) hyperintense lesion on T2-weighted imaging (blue arrows) with perilesional edema (red arrow), a B) hypointense lesion on T1-weighted imaging (blue arrows), with an C) enhancing peripheral rim-like thick capsule (blue arrows).

FIGURE 3:
A) Diffusion-weighted images and B) apparent diffusion coefficient map shows restricted diffusion within the lesion (blue arrows).

Based on the clinical presentation, imaging findings, and elevated inflammatory markers, a diagnosis of hepatic amoebic abscess was made. She was treated with metronidazole (500 mg) thrice daily for 10 days. Her symptoms significantly improved after initiation of treatment. Repeat imaging six months later showed a complete resolution of the abscess. While Entamoeba histolytica is a well-known pathogen¹, causing potentially life-threatening hepatic amoebic abscess, its presentation can be atypical, as seen in this case. The extraintestinal disease is uncommon, and the liver (3-9%) is the most commonly affected organ^1,2. Amoebic liver abscesses are more likely to be solitary than multiple lesions, and are more commonly found in the right lobe than in the left³. Drainage is not recommended because of the risk of rupture; medical treatment is preferred.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors of the manuscript have no acknowledgments.

REFERENCES

• ¹ Stanley SL Jr. Amoebiasis. Lancet. 2003;361(9362):1025-34.
• ² Usuda D, Tsuge S, Sakurai R, Kawai K, Matsubara S, Tanaka R, et al. Amebic liver abscess by Entamoeba histolytica. World J Clin Cases. 2022;10(36):13157-166.
• ³ Chang CY, Radhakrishnan AP. Amoebic liver abscess. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2022;55:e0665.

• Financial Support: No funding was received for this study.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  12 Feb 2024
• Date of issue
  2024

History

• Received
  25 Oct 2023
• Accepted
  29 Oct 2023