Profile of amebic liver abscess

Two hundred cases of amebic liver abscess diagnosed between 1989 and 1991 at the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal were analyzed in this retrospective study. The clinical features and investigation reports were studied and the treatment and its response were analyzed. Amebic liver abscess constituted 0.6% of total hospital admissions during the study period. The male to female ratio was 13:1 with the most common age group of presentation between the fourth and fifth decades of life. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom (92%) and hepatomegaly was observed in 94% of the cases. Ultrasonogram of the abdomen served as the most useful diagnostic aid. Right lobe abscess was observed in 87% of the cases. Abscess was single in 81.5% of cases. Abscess size of more than 4 cm was observed in 46.5% of the cases. Metronidazole and chloroquine were found to be effective in most cases. Aspiration was done in 35.5% of cases. The complications encountered in this study were pleural effusion (two cases), pneumonic consolidation (four cases), pericardial effusion (one case) and ascitis (two cases).