Hepatosplenic brucella abscesses on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging: Case series

Because of its infrequent and the lack of clinical data and image finding, the management of acute infections with the hepatosplenic brucella abscesses is challenging.

There were 10 serologically diagnosed cases with this brucella infection. All patients had fever, 50% patients had upper abdominal pain. Ninety percent patients lived in an urban environment. The localization of lesions included: 30% hepatosplenic, 30% liver, and 40% spleen.

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated hepatosplenomegaly, with multiple small abscess lesions of various sizes in the acute stage of brucellosis, with the largest diameter of 1.5 cm in the liver. After contrast-enhanced CT and MRI findings, the arterial phase in which the enhancing area of lesions was thick, revealed multifocal hypodense or hypointense lesions of various sizes. These lesions manifested distinct boundary, which was intensified obviously in portal venous phase.

Our results indicate that early CT or MRI dynamic contrast enhancement of suspected cases could improve rapid diagnosis. However, diagnostic criteria remain problematic and diagnosis is mostly based on a combination of clinical suspicion, serologic markers, and radiologic findings.