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An unusual zoonosis: liver abscess secondary to asymptomatic colonic foreign body

Justin S Gundara1, Richard Harrison

  • 1Department of Surgery, Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia. jgundara@gmp.usyd.edu.au

HPB Surgery : a World Journal of Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery
|November 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A chicken bone caused a liver abscess in a 57-year-old man. This case highlights the need to consider foreign bodies as a cause of hepatic sepsis, even when the intestinal source is asymptomatic.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • Liver abscesses can result from bacterial translocation from the gut to the liver via the portal vein.
  • Foreign bodies penetrating the gastrointestinal tract are known, albeit uncommon, causes of such insults.

Observation:

  • A 57-year-old male presented with a left liver abscess, identified via CT scan.
  • The CT incidentally revealed a chicken bone perforating the sigmoid colon wall.
  • The patient experienced sepsis and abdominal pain, but the colonic perforation remained asymptomatic.

Findings:

  • Percutaneous drainage resolved the liver abscess.
  • The chicken bone persisted for two months before endoscopic removal.
  • This case suggests foreign bodies are underdiagnosed causes of hepatic abscess.

Implications:

  • Thorough investigation for foreign bodies is crucial in unexplained hepatic sepsis.
  • Considering foreign body ingestion may improve diagnosis and management of liver abscesses.
  • Early identification of gastrointestinal foreign bodies can prevent serious complications like liver abscesses.

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