[Management of liver abscess formed after asymptomatic sigmoid diverticulitis]

Abstract

Liver abscess is a rare complication of sigmoid diverticulitis and must be considered within the differential diagnosis. We report a case of a male patient, age 71, admitted to our hospital with chief complaints of a dull pain in upper right abdominal quadrant, fever and weakness of approximately 5 months duration. He had a history of a surgery 18 years ago after an episode of diverticulitis. Physical examination and biochemistry on initial work-up revealed tenderness on palpation in upper right abdomen, leukocytosis and a 39 degrees C fever. Ultrasound examination revealed round structure with low echo properties in the right lobe of the liver. Further CT scan examination confirmed an abscess collection. We performed ultrasound guided percutaneous catheter drainage with intravenous administration of broad spectrum antibiotics, resulting in a successful treatment of a liver abscess. Colonoscopy confirmed sigmoid diverticulitis which was the most likely the source of bacterial invasion through portal venous system.