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Multiple liver amoebic abscesses detected on FDG PET/CT
Françoise Annie Cavailloles1, Agnes Mure, Hicham Nasser
1From the *Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hopital Prive d'Antony, Antony; and †Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, CH François Quesnay, Mantes-la-Jolie, France.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine
|May 4, 2013
Summary
This case study highlights a rare instance of liver amoebic abscesses diagnosed via FDG PET/CT scan. The findings underscore the importance of considering parasitic infections in hepatic lesion diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Parasitology
- Hepatology
Background:
- A 58-year-old male patient presented with a month-long history of fever, chills, right flank pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- The patient was referred for a Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG PET/CT) scan with an initial suspicion of secondary hepatic lesions.
Observation:
- The FDG PET/CT revealed heterogeneous hepatic uptake.
- Multiple hypometabolic (cold) lesions were observed, surrounded by faint hypermetabolism, which is atypical for hepatic metastases.
Findings:
- A liver biopsy was performed due to the non-specific imaging findings.
- The biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of amoebic abscesses, identifying the parasitic etiology.
Implications:
- This case emphasizes the diagnostic utility of FDG PET/CT in evaluating hepatic lesions.
- It highlights the necessity of considering amoebic abscesses in the differential diagnosis of liver masses, especially in patients with relevant travel history or endemic exposure.
- Accurate diagnosis through biopsy is crucial for appropriate treatment and management of hepatic amoebiasis.
