Actinomycotic liver abscess

Abstract

Actinomycosis bacteria are known for their disregard to anatomical boundaries and their ability to infect organs all over the body including the liver. Here the infection is usually contained in the form of single or multiple abscesses. The clinical manifestations produced are variable even protean and only in some patients point to the right upper abdominal quadrant. However with appropriate imaging modalities and culture techniques for microaerophilic organisms accurate diagnosis is possible and specific antibiotic therapy can be initiated. We report a patient with an actinomycotic liver abscess and no apparent predisposing factor. She was diagnosed on the basis of a history of fever and right upper quadrant pain and tenderness, the abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography findings of a hypodense liver lesion and a histopathology specimen following a diagnostic and therapeutic aspiration of the liver abscess, and had an excellent response to penicillin therapy which demonstrates the nowadays possible avoidance of laparoscopic, and open surgical intervention for this condition.