Diagnosis and percutaneous treatment of pyogenic hepatic abscesses

Twelve patients with intrahepatic abscesses were examined with computed tomography and ultrasonography between 1979 and 1988. The median size of the lesions was 7 (1-12) cm. They were in 8 patients located only in the right liver lobe and in 3 in both liver lobes. On ultrasonography the echogenicity of the abscesses varied from hypo- to hyperechoic which is consistent with tumours. The final diagnosis of abscess was achieved by fine needle puncture and aspiration for bacterial culture. Nine patients were treated with percutaneous drainage. 3 of them with two catheters, and all received systemic antibiotic treatment. All patients survived the treatment.