Correlation of amoebic liver abscess with computed tomography findings in a tertiary care centre

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the present research was to co-relate the clinical findings of amoebic liver abscess cases in tertiary care centre with the respective computed tomographic findings. Methodology: CT images of 112 symptomatic patients with ALA were analysed to identify the imaging features distinctive of each morphological type. The following CT findings were investigated: the presence of abscess wall, rim enhancement, edge characteristic, septa, intermediate density zone, and peripheral hypodensity. Abscesses from each type were further evaluated for their clinical presentations, laboratory findings and outcomes. Results: We identified three types of ALAs: type I, II and III. Type I abscesses (66%) were characterized by absent or incomplete walls, ragged edges and peripheral septa; their edges exhibited irregular and interrupted enhancement. Type II (28%) had a complete wall characterized by rim enhancement and peripheral hypodense halo. Type III (6%) demonstrated a wall but without enhancement. Clinically, type I abscesses presented acutely with severe disease. They had significantly deranged laboratory parameters, higher incidence of rupture and higher rate of inpatient or intensive care unit admission. The severity of the disease prompted immediate percutaneous drainage in most type I abscesses (81%).