Hepatic amoebiasis

If amoebae are transported with the venous blood from the intestinal wall to the liver, an abscess in the liver may be formed: hepatic amoebiasis. If the abscess is located adjacent to the fibrous capsule of the liver, adhesions are formed. A subphrenic abscess is less frequent than direct perforation of the diaphragm with empyema or fistula formation to the bronchi. Perforation to the peritoneum is rare. Perforations of the intestine, biliary ducts or navel with secondary phagedenic ulceration of the skin are more frequent than generalised peritonitis. Abscesses of the left hepatic lobe may perforate the pericardium in a life-threatening manner. [The term "abscess" is not actually correct here in the strictest sense, because this is not a collection of pus cells (white blood cells). It is local cytolysis of liver tissue.]

Category: Medicine Notes