Ultrasonically guided percutaneous treatment of liver abscesses

Twenty-two patients with liver abscesses demonstrated by ultrasonography (US) were treated over a nine-year period. The diagnosis was in all cases verified by puncture. The patients were treated by US-guided puncture or catheter drainage. Seventeen patients (77%) were cured without surgical drainage. Four patients were cured after subsequent surgical intervention. One patient died later of pancreatic carcinoma. There were no complications from the US-guided therapy. For the treatment of liver abscesses we recommend US-guided drainage as the first choice. Close collaboration between surgeon and radiologist is mandatory since some of these patients still need surgical treatment.