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John F. Lee, MD; George E. Block, MD

AMA Arch Surg. 1972;104(4):465-470.

Abstract
Thirty-six patients with hepatic abscesses were investigated and divided into the following two groups: (1) those diagnosed prior to 1965 and (2) those diagnosed after the availability of hepatic scans. In both groups male patients predominated. The age of the patients steadily decreased with time. The introduction of effective photoscanning techniques was associated with a decrease in overall mortality from 83% to 23%. The incidence of cryptogenic abscesses, insignificant prior to 1965, rose to comprise 45% of all those pyogenic origin. The incidence of abscesses secondary to extrahepatic biliary duct disease has concomitantly decreased. Speculation is brought forward that cryptogenic abscesses are due to intrahepatic microembolism. The successful nonoperative management of amebic abscesses in two patients utilizes serial hepatic scanning, hemoagglutination studies, and treatment with metronidazole.

Author Affiliations
Chicago

From the Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Dec 7, 1971.

Read before the 79th annual session of the Western Surgical Association, Portland, Ore, Nov 19, 1971.

Reprint requests to the Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics, 950 E 59th St, Chicago 60637 (Dr. Lee).

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