AMEBIC LIVER-ABSCESS - PRESENTATION OF 4 CASES

We report four patients with amebic liver abscess diagnosed in our hospital between January 1985 and January 1990. Mean patient age was 40 years. All patients had previously travelled to an endemic area. Fever, weight loss, right-upper-quadrant pain and hepatomegaly were the most frequent clinical manifestation. Two patients had a history of diarrhea. Diagnosis was made by epidemiology, clinical manifestation, ultrasonic scanning and computerized tomography and serologic test. Two patients received metronidazole exclusively and two patients required percutaneous catheter drainage under ultrasound guidance.