Liver abscess
| Liver abscess | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Gastroenterology  |
A liver abscess is a pus-filled mass inside the liver.[1] Common causes are abdominal infections such as appendicitis or diverticulitis due to haematogenous spread through the portal vein.[2]
Types
There are three major forms of liver abscess, classified by etiology:
- 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.
- Fungal abscess, most often due to Candida species, accounts for less than 10% of cases.
Causes
Major bacterial causes of liver abscess include the following:[3]
- Streptococcus species (including Enterococcus)
- Escherichia species
- Staphylococcus species
- Klebsiella species (Higher rates in the Far East)
- Anaerobes (including Bacteroides species)
- Pseudomonas species
- Proteus species
However, as noted above, many cases are polymicrobial.
References
External links
- Liver Abscess CT Images CTCases Liver Abscess CT Scan.
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