Amebic liver abscess

50 patients, with ages ranging from eight to 55 years, suffering from amebic liver abscess (ALA), have been studied. 90% of these patients were males. The abscess was located in the left lobe of the liver in nine cases and involved both lobes in four cases. In 17 patients, the abscess had already ruptured at the time of admission and, in four cases, it was about to rupture. In seven patients the diagnosis of ALA could only be made on laparotomy. The treatment is primarily conservative; antiamebic drugs, antiobiotic supportive therapy and aspiration of the abscess. Twenty-seven patients required surgery in the form of laparotomy and drainage of empyema. The preoperative use of antiamebic drugs directly influenced the results of surgery. Five patients died. None of them had any antiamebic treatment preoperatively and in 80% of these the diagnosis was only made after laparotomy.