Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to amebic abscesses

A patient presented with fulminant hepatic failure which rapidly led to his death. At postmortem examination, he had several amebic abscesses secondarily infected with bacteria, one of which had ruptured intraperitoneally, and another of which had occluded major hepatic veins of the right lobe of the liver. In addition, pylephlebitis and occlusion of several right portal venous radicles were noted. Microscopic examination of the right lobe revealed marked sinusoidal congestion and large areas of infarction with severe panlobular necrosis. Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to complications of amebic abscess has been reported infrequently but should be considered in patients with this presentation who have visited or inhabited areas endemic for amebiasis.