[Ultrasonic diagnosis and control of an amebic obscess of the liver (author's transl)].

A case report is given of a patient, who suffered from relapsing fever, loss of weight, and right-sided upper abdominal colicky pain. A tentative diagnosis of amebic abscess was established on clinical grounds and after ultrasonography. Metronidazol was given and body temperature normalized within 24 hours; 6 weeks later only scarring of the liver remained. Sonographic controls were performed once weekly during the course of the disease, showing that the central parts of the abscess were liquified increasingly; at the same time a marginal zone about 1 cm broad was formed. This type of marginal zone could be demonstrated in another patient with amebic abscess of the liver as well by ultrasonography, whereas it could never be shown in patients with purulant abscesses of the liver.