Liver abscess
A liver abscess is a mass filled with pus inside the liver. Common causes are abdominal conditions such as appendicitis or diverticulitis due to haematogenous spread through the portal vein. It can also develop as a complication of a liver injury.
Causes
Risk factors for developing liver abscess can be due to infection, post-procedural infection and metastasis such as primary liver tumours, liver metastasis, biliary procedures, biliary injuries, biliary tract disease, appendicitis, and diverticulitis.Major bacterial causes of liver abscess include the following:
- Streptococcus species
- Escherichia species
- Staphylococcus species
- Klebsiella species
- Anaerobes
- Pseudomonas species
- Proteus species
- Entamoeba histolytica
Diagnosis
Types
There are several major forms of liver abscess, classified by cause:- Pyogenic liver abscess, which is most often polymicrobial, accounts for 80% of hepatic abscess cases in the United States.
- Amoebic liver abscess due to Entamoeba histolytica accounts for 10% of cases. The incidence is much higher in developing countries.
- Fungal abscess, most often due to Candida species, accounts for less than 10% of cases.
- Iatrogenic abscess, caused by medical interventions
Management