Ultrasonographic diagnosis of amebic liver abscess

Amebic liver abscess is the most common extraintestinal complication of amebiasis. Radionuclide scan, CT havehelped ultrasound in making diagnosis of a amebic liver abscess, but sonography have made a remarkablecontribution in the diagnosis and management. Sonographic features of proven amebic abscess of 17 cases in 16patients were retrospectively analyzed. The abscess lesions were located in right lobe of the liver(14 cases),single in number(15 cases). There were 9 cases of pleural effusion. In one patient, colitis was present as acomplication. Sonographic findings of amebic abscess were round inhomogenous hypoechoic lesion; absence ofdefinite wall echoes; posterior wall enhancement; progressive echolucent change with maturation. Ultrasound guided aspiration can make the microbiological diagnosis of amebic abscess.