[Infection or metastases? The amoebic abscess].

BACKGROUND

Cases of Entamoeba histolytica infections in the Netherlands are usually imported diseases. The most common extra-intestinal manifestation of E. histolytica is the amoebic abscess. Patients can present with a clinical picture of colitis with pain in the upper right abdomen, accompanied by fever in cases of liver abscess. Diagnostics focus mainly on the detection of E. histolytica with PCR or ELISA. Infections are treated with metronidazole, with clioquinol as follow-up treatment.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 61-year-old, previously healthy man was admitted to hospital with pain in the upper right abdomen and fever. He had no history of travel in the tropics or sub-tropics. CT imaging revealed liver abscesses or liver metastases. Cultures of abscess fluid were negative. After extensive diagnostics the patient was shown to have an amoebic abscess for which he was successfully treated.

CONCLUSION

If the bacterial cultures of liver abscess fluid continue to be negative the possibility of an amoebic abscess should be considered, even with a negative history of travel to the tropics or subtropics.