Portal and hepatic vein thrombosis in liver abscess: CT findings

Development of a nomogram to assess thromboembolic risk in patients with liver abscesses

Thromboembolism, a serious complication in patients with liver abscesses, can lead to organ deterioration if left untreated. However, factors associated with thromboembolism in these patients remain poorly understood. We aimed to identify the factors associated with liver abscess complications, with a focus on thromboembolism and metastatic infection. Data from 325 patients diagnosed with liver abscesses between March 2019 and June 2023 were retrospectively collected. Baseline clinical and laboratory variables associated with thromboembolic events and metastatic infections were analyzed using logistic regression. A nomogram for predicting thromboembolism was constructed using significant predictors. Among the 325 patients, the median age was 68.0 years, and included 129 women. Fifty patients experienced thromboembolic events and 44 had metastatic infections. Significant predictors for thromboembolic events included white blood cell (WBC)  ≥ 20,000/µL (odds ratio [OR] 3.401, p = 0.002), platelet count < 100,000/µL (OR 3.291, p = 0.004), and abscess septation (OR 2.704, p = 0.007). Age ≥ 65 years (OR 0.457, p = 0.040), WBC  ≥ 20,000/µL (OR 3.340, p = 0.005), and abscess septation (OR 2.909, p = 0.008) were identified as factors associated with metastatic infections. A nomogram was constructed to predict thromboembolism using the following four variables: WBC  ≥ 20,000/µL platelet count < 100,000/µL, albumin < 2.8 g/dL, and abscess septation, and demonstrated an AUROC of 0.755. Our study is the first to develop a reliable nomogram for thromboembolism prediction, utilizing easily accessible clinical parameters. This innovative model enables clinicians to efficiently identify high-risk patients, facilitating the implementation of additional studies to mitigate the risk of overlooked thromboembolic events in these at-risk individuals.

Vascular complications of liver abscess: A literature review

Extensive vascular network and proximity to the gastrointestinal tract make the liver susceptible to abscess formation. While pyogenic liver abscesses account for the majority of liver abscesses in the Western world, amebic liver abscesses are more prevalent in tropical and developing nations. Most liver abscesses heal without complications. However, various vascular complications can occur in these patients, including compression of the inferior vena cava, thrombosis of the portal vein and/or hepatic veins, hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm, direct rupture into major vessels or the pericardium, and biliovascular fistula. These complications can present significant clinical challenges due to the potential for haemorrhage, ischemia, and systemic embolism, thereby increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality. Mechanical compression, flow stasis, inflammation, endothelial injury, and direct invasion are some of the proposed mechanisms that can cause vascular complications in the setting of a liver abscess. For the diagnosis, thorough assessment, and therapeutic planning of vascular complications, more sophisticated imaging techniques such as multidetector computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance angiography may be necessary. Although most vascular complications resolve with abscess treatment alone, additional interventions may be required based on the nature, severity, and course of the complications. This article aims to provide a systematic update on the spectrum of vascular complications of liver abscesses, offering insights into their pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management strategies.

Quadruple Complication in a Patient With Liver Cirrhosis: A Diagnostic Conundrum

The incidence of bacterial infections is high in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) due to compromised immune systems. They are associated with acute hepatic decompensation, multiorgan dysfunction, high morbidity, and mortality and account for 25-46% of all hospitalizations. The mortality rate is about 30% after one month and increases to 63% at one-year follow-up. While spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), urinary tract infections, soft tissue infections, and respiratory tract infections (pneumonia) are some of the common infections, SBP accounts for 25-31% of the cases and is the most frequent bacterial infection. Impaired activity of the phagocytes of the reticuloendothelial system, decreased production of the complement, and bacteria gaining access into the systemic circulation through the porto-systemic shunts are some of the causes of high-risk bacterial infection in patients with LC. The diagnosis of bacterial infection may be challenging as the typical symptoms like fever may not always be evident. We present a very challenging, middle-aged patient of cirrhosis with diabetes mellitus (DM) who presented with infections at multiple sites like SBP due to Serratia ficaria, multiple pyemic liver abscesses, left peri-nephric abscess with septicaemia, further complicated by portal vein thrombosis - all during single hospital admission. SBP was unique in the sense that no case of SBP due to Serratia ficaria has been published in the literature to date. The stormy clinical course, management, and outcome of the patient are described here.

Prevalence of vascular thrombosis in patients with liver abscess

Thrombotic complications in liver abscess are less commonly identified in the literature. In this prospective observational study, vascular thrombosis was detected in 21.9% cases. However, there was no significant difference in outcome with or without vascular thrombosis, properly treated.

Hepatic abscess due to Candida species in neonates: Case reports in Vietnam

Neonatal hepatic abscess (NHA) is a fatal condition in neonates. NHA can be caused by many organisms including bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Fungal NHA is a rare but troublesome cause in terms of diagnosis and treatment. We present three cases of fungal NHA caused by Candida. In these three cases, different underlying problems associated with NHA had been found.

Cystic liver lesions: a pictorial review

Hepatic cysts (HC) are sac-like structures mainly filled with liquid and showing a distinct membrane. They are usually found incidentally through imaging. A wide spectrum of imaging patterns may be observed for common and uncommon, neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. While simple hepatic cysts occur frequently and do not require any treatment or follow-up, non-typical cysts should be carefully analysed to avoid misdiagnosing a lesion that would require appropriate management. Therefore, adequate knowledge of all the relevant imaging patterns is critical to secure an accurate diagnosis. The aim of this review is to describe the imaging features of the different types of hepatic cysts.

Budd-Chiari syndrome: epidemiological and clinical characteristics of a case series in Northwest Spain

Introduction

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare vascular disease of the liver, characterised by occlusion of the venous outflow tract. Cancer, pyogenic liver infection, and prothrombotic haematological conditions are the most frequent causes of BCS. The treatment and prognosis of the disease are closely related to the underlying cause.

Methods

This is a retrospective case-series study performed in Spain, in a health area of around 523,000 inhabitants. Cases were identified in the discharge database of the hospital between 2000 and 2020. Epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and prognosis data were obtained from the patient medical records.

Results

A total of 15 cases were identified. Most of them were male patients (n = 8, 53.3%) with a median age of 52 years. The most common cause of BCS was cancer (n = 6, 40.0%) followed by liver abscesses (n = 4, 26.7%). The most frequent clinical course was subacute hepatitis (n = 8, 53.3%); 12 of the 15 patients (80%) received anticoagulant treatment, and interventional treatment was carried out in 4 patients (26.7%). Seven patients died within 6 months (46.7%), 6 of them due to progression of the underlying disease, most often cancer; 2 patients (13.3%) developed liver cirrhosis after BCS.

Discussion

The incidence of BCS was low but higher than in other European studies. In addition, this current research showed a different aetiology than previously described. The mortality rate was extremely high and closely related to the underlying disease. The involvement of classic prothrombotic haematological factors was less common than previously described.

Large retrospective study analysing predictive factors of primary treatment failure, recurrence and death in pyogenic liver abscesses

PURPOSE

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a severe disease, which unfavourable evolution remains frequent. Our objective was to assess predictive factors of unfavourable outcome in patients with PLA.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study in a French tertiary care centre. All patients admitted for PLA between 2010 and 2018 were included. Unfavourable course was defined as the occurrence of a primary treatment failure (PTF), recurrence of PLA after an initial cure, or death within 3 months after diagnosis. Hazard ratios (95% CI) were calculated with multivariable Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

302 patients were included among which 91 (30.1%) patients had an unfavourable outcome because of PTF, recurrence or death in 55 (18.2%), 28 (9.2%) and 32 (10.6%) patients, respectively. Hepatic metastases (HR 2.08; 95% CI 1.04-4.15), a nosocomial infection (2.25; 1.14-4.42), portal thrombosis (2.12; 1.14-3.93), and the isolation of Enterococcus spp. (2.18; 1.22- 3.90) were independently associated with PTF. Ischemic cholangitis (6.30; 2.70-14.70) and the isolation of Streptococcus spp. (3.72; 1.36-10.16) were associated with the risk of recurrence. Charlson comorbidity index (HR 1.30 per one point; 95% CI 1.15-1.46; p < 0.001), portal thrombosis (3.53; 1.65-7.56) and the presence of multi-drug-resistant organisms (3.81; 1.73-8.40) were associated with mortality within 3 months following PLA diagnosis. PLA drainage was the only factor associated with a lower mortality (0.14; 0.06-0.34).

CONCLUSION

Identification of specific risk factors may help to improve the management of PLA and to elaborate targeted recommendations according to patient's and disease's characteristics.

Liver Abscess in Children-experience From a Single Tertiary Care Center of North India: Etiology, Clinical Profile and Predictors of Complications

BACKGROUND

Liver abscess (LA), a common problem in children in the tropics, is believed to be mostly pyogenic (PLA), sometimes amebic (ALA). We aimed to analyze the clinical profile, etiology, risk factors for complications, management and outcomes of LA in children.

METHODS

The details of 81 children with LA managed in a tertiary set up over a period of 3 years were analyzed. A comparison of different parameters was performed with respect to etiology and complications.

RESULTS

ALA, PLA and mixed infection LA were diagnosed in 40 (49.4%), 32 (39.5%) and 9 (11.1%) children. The triad of fever, hepatomegaly and right upper quadrant tenderness was seen in 65 (80.2%). Coagulopathy was observed in 60 (77%) and jaundice in 12 (14.8%). Majority (71.6%) had a single LA in the right lobe (69%). Conservative, percutaneous needle aspiration, percutaneous catheter drainage and surgical drainage were done in 11.1%, 3.7%, 82.7% and 2.5%, respectively. Forty-three (53.1%) had complicated LA with rupture in 55.8% and vascular thrombosis in 16.2%. Children with complicated LA had higher alanine transaminase, prolonged prothrombin time/international normalized ratio, low serum protein and albumin levels (P < 0.05). Median duration of follow-up was 2 months and mean time to resolution of LA was 48.5 ± 18 days.

CONCLUSIONS

ALA is the commonest cause of pediatric LA in endemic regions and is difficult to differentiate from PLA clinically. Percutaneous catheter drainage is safe and effective modality for the management of LA in children. A higher alanine transaminase, prolonged prothrombin time/international normalized ratio and low serum albumin levels (<3 g/dL) at presentation identify complicated LA.

Typical imaging finding of hepatic infections: a pictorial essay

Hepatic infections are frequent in clinical practice. Although epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data may suggest hepatic infection in certain cases, imaging is nearly always necessary to confirm the diagnosis, assess disease extension and its complications, evaluate the response to treatment, and sometimes to make differential diagnoses such as malignancies. Ultrasound (US) is usually the first-line investigation, while computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide better characterization and a more precise assessment of local extension, especially biliary and vascular. The purpose of this article is to describe the typical features and main complications of common hepatic infections. Familiarity with the radiological features of this entity can help suggest the correct diagnosis and the need for further studies as well as determine appropriate and timely treatment.

Pulmonary Thromboembolism: A Rare Vascular Complication of Amebic Liver Abscess

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extra-intestinal manifestation of amebiasis. Its complications include rupture into peritoneum, pleural space or anterior abdominal wall. Large abscesses can cause compression of neighboring vascular structures with thrombus formation. Herein, we are presenting an unusual case of a 26-year-old male patient who presented with fever, abdominal pain, chest pain and dyspnea. Ultrasound of the abdomen revealed a lesion in the right lobe of liver and chest radiograph revealed minimal right-sided pleural effusion. A computed tomographic (CT) scan was done in view of unexplained symptoms and a diagnosis of ALA compressing the inferior vena cava (IVC) with subsequent thrombus formation and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) was made. He was managed successfully with antibiotics, percutaneous aspiration and anticoagulation.

A retrospective study of pyogenic liver abscess caused primarily by Klebsiella pneumoniae vs. non-Klebsiella pneumoniae: CT and clinical differentiation

PURPOSE

The incidence of Klebsiella pneumoniae pyogenic liver abscesses (KP-PLA) is increasing. However, its diagnosis and treatment are often delayed, leading to complications. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively compare computed tomographic (CT) features of KP-PLAs with those of abscesses caused by other bacterial pathogens (non-KP-PLAS) and to further identify prognostic factors for PLA.

METHODS

Data of 219 study patients including clinical presentation, comorbid conditions, metastatic infection, treatment duration, and mortality were retrospectively collated. CT characteristics of abscesses were recorded. Etiology was established by pus and/or blood culture. The differentiating CT features and clinical findings were compared between the monomicrobial KP-PLA and non-KP-PLA groups. Furthermore, factors related to in-hospital case fatality were analyzed.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis identified thin-walled abscesses, absent rim enhancement, metastatic infection, and absence of underlying biliary tract disease as significant predictors of KP-PLA. With 3/4 criteria applied in combination, a specificity of 96.5% was achieved for KP-PLA diagnosis. The in-hospital mortality rate was 3.7%. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus (P = 0.031), multiple abscesses (P = 0.026), internal gas bubble (P = 0.041), metastatic infection (P = 0.004), and septic shock (P = 0.002) were significantly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSION

Thin-walled abscess, metastatic infection, absence of rim enhancement, and absence of underlying biliary tract disease are potentially useful CT findings for early KP-PLA diagnosis.

Venous thrombosis and segmental hypoperfusion in amebic liver abscess: MDCT demonstration and its implications

PURPOSE

To report venous thrombosis and associated perfusion defect in amebic liver abscess (ALA) using MDCT.

METHOD

MDCT images of 62 patients with ALA were reviewed for venous thrombosis and associated perfusion abnormalities.

RESULT

The study found 43 (69%) patients with venous thrombosis: portal vein thrombosis (PVT) occurred in 39, hepatic vein thrombosis (HVT) in 37 and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis in 4. Combined PVT and HVT occurred in 33 (77%) patients. The portal vein thrombi remained localized in subsegmental branches in 25 patients and extended to segmental branches in 14. The hepatic vein thrombi were confined to peripheral branches in 18 patients; they progressed to the main trunk in 19 and to the IVC in 4. A wedge-shaped hypoattenuating zone suggesting ischemia was identified in 33 (77%) patients in portal phase: 31 had combined PVT and HVT, 2 had HVT alone, but none had PVT alone. It occurred significantly more often with combined PVT and HVT than HVT alone (p = 0.05). Arterial phase enhancement occurred in 2 of 13 patients with multiphasic CT. All patients were symptomatic despite medical therapy and therefore required percutaneous drainage. About half of the patients were identified with ruptured abscesses. Segmental atrophy was observed in seven of nine patients who underwent follow-up CT.

CONCLUSION

Combined PVT and HVT commonly occur with ALA and often manifests as segmental hypoperfusion in portal venous phase, indicating ischemia. The detection of such events by CT may be indicative of severe disease that requires aggressive management involving percutaneous drainage.

Venous thrombosis and segmental hypoperfusion in amebic liver abscess: MDCT demonstration and its implications

PURPOSE

To report venous thrombosis and associated perfusion defect in amebic liver abscess (ALA) using MDCT.

METHOD

MDCT images of 62 patients with ALA were reviewed for venous thrombosis and associated perfusion abnormalities.

RESULT

The study found 43 (69%) patients with venous thrombosis: portal vein thrombosis (PVT) occurred in 39, hepatic vein thrombosis (HVT) in 37 and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis in 4. Combined PVT and HVT occurred in 33 (77%) patients. The portal vein thrombi remained localized in subsegmental branches in 25 patients and extended to segmental branches in 14. The hepatic vein thrombi were confined to peripheral branches in 18 patients; they progressed to the main trunk in 19 and to the IVC in 4. A wedge-shaped hypoattenuating zone suggesting ischemia was identified in 33 (77%) patients in portal phase: 31 had combined PVT and HVT, 2 had HVT alone, but none had PVT alone. It occurred significantly more often with combined PVT and HVT than HVT alone (p = 0.05). Arterial phase enhancement occurred in 2 of 13 patients with multiphasic CT. All patients were symptomatic despite medical therapy and therefore required percutaneous drainage. About half of the patients were identified with ruptured abscesses. Segmental atrophy was observed in seven of nine patients who underwent follow-up CT.

CONCLUSION

Combined PVT and HVT commonly occur with ALA and often manifests as segmental hypoperfusion in portal venous phase, indicating ischemia. The detection of such events by CT may be indicative of severe disease that requires aggressive management involving percutaneous drainage.

Platelet reactivity in diabetic patients with invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess syndrome

Objective

Platelets catalyze the development of hyperinflammation and microthrombosis and contribute to increases in accumulation of circulating platelet-leukocyte complex, the key event in the development of disseminated infection.

Subjects and methods

To determine the relationships of platelet activity in diabetic patients with invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess syndrome (IKLAS), a total of 175 diabetic patients with community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) bacteremia were included in this study. We compared the platelet reactivity of 40 patients with IKLAS, 40 patients with non-IKLAS, and eight healthy controls using a whole-blood flow cytometry-based assay.

Results

Patients who were infected with strains expressing K₁/K₂ serotype (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 8.81; 95% CI, 2.18–35.53) and those with HbA_1c ≥9% (AOR, 4.97; 95% CI, 1.73–14.23) were more likely to present with IKLAS, whereas those who had recent therapy with aspirin (AOR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.04–0.79) were less likely to present with IKLAS. Among patients with IKLAS, patients with a poor glycemic control were more likely to present with hepatic venous thrombo-phlebitis than those with suboptimal or good glycemic control (P=0.03). Patients with IKLAS had a higher median fluorescence intensity of the platelet membrane expression of P-selectin than those with non-IKLAS (78.0 vs 28.0, P<0.001) and controls (78.0 vs 22.0, P< 0.001). The IKLAS group also demonstrated a significantly higher platelet-monocyte aggregation and higher plasma levels of PF-4 than the non-IKLAS group (47.0 vs 18.0 and 47.0 vs 4.0, respectively, both P <0.001) and controls (46.0 vs 24.0 and 46.0 vs 13.0, respectively, both P <0.001).

Conclusion

Diabetic patients with IKLAS demonstrated platelet hyperreactivity, which may be associated with a higher risk for vascular complications.

Pyogenic liver abscess related to intrahepatic bile duct stones: Difficulties in infectious control and diagnosis of concomitant cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Cholangitis, bacteremia, and pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) can be often caused by intrahepatic bile ducts stone (IBDS), which is endemic to South-East Asia. The association between IBDS and cholangiocarcinoma has been well recognized. Concomitant cholangiocarcinoma in the PLA related to IBDS is often missed.

METHODS

A case-control study consisting of 64 patients with PLA related to IBDS and 256 control patients with PLA not related to IBDS was used to investigate clinical features of PLA and incidence of concomitant cholangiocarcinoma in patients with PLA related to IBDS.

RESULTS

The main imaging manifestations of PLA related to IBDS was cystic-solid lesions and solid lesions. Of seven patients (10.9%) with pathology-proven cholangiocarcinoma in the same area of PLA related to IBDS among 64 patients, only two patients were initially diagnosed as having concomitant cholangiocarcinoma by biopsy, and other five patients diagnosed as acute inflammatory lesion. Within 60 days after onset, the infection-related death rate and recurrence rate in patients with PLA related to IBDS were 12.9% and 20.3%, respectively, whereas in patients with PLA not related to IBDS were 3.9% and 3.1%, respectively. Only 25% of patients with PLA related to IBDS underwent surgery after admission. The main pathogens in PLA patients related to IBDS were Escherichia coli and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

CONCLUSIONS

The imaging manifestations of PLA related to IBDS often present cystic-solid or solid lesions. PLA related to IBDS is characterized by high rate of recurrence and infection-related death, difficulty in diagnosis of concomitant cholangicarcinoma.

Asymptomatic pyogenic liver abscesses secondary to Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus vestibularis in an immunocompetent patient

A 66-year-old male patient presented with symptoms and signs of L4/5 radiculopathy. He was found to be anaemic with elevated inflammatory markers and deranged hepatic enzymes. Imaging revealed lumbar canal stenosis and the presence of pyogenic liver abscesses from which Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus vestibularis were isolated. The hepatic abscesses were attributed to asymptomatic diverticular perforation. Multiple coexisting incidental infections were discovered, including oesophageal candidiasis, Helicobacter pylori, stool cultures positive for Strongyloides stercoralis, and sputum cultures positive for Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium avium Extensive investigations for possible underlying immunosuppression were negative.

Computed Tomography Features of Septic Pulmonary Embolism Caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae Liver Abscess Associated With Extrapulmonary Metastatic Infection

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were to investigate the computed tomography (CT) features and clinical course of septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) and to explore the possible mechanism underlying the spread of infection.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with KPLA-induced SPE admitted to our hospital between January 2010 and May 2015 were evaluated. According to the presence or absence of extrapulmonary metastatic infection (EMI), they were divided into EMI and non-EMI groups and clinical and CT features of the 2 groups were compared. Hepatic vein thrombophlebitis was evaluated on liver CT images. Chest CT features included nodules, wedge-shaped lesions, ground-glass opacity, consolidation, cavitation, feeding vessel sign, pleural effusion, and lymphadenopathy.

RESULTS

All the vessels within the so-called feeding vessel sign were confirmed as pulmonary veins by multiplanar reconstruction, so we used an alternative name draining vessel sign (DVS) instead. Peripheral nodules, DVS, and consolidation were the main CT features of KPLA-induced SPE. Peripheral nodules and DVS were more frequently seen in the EMI group than in the non-EMI group (P = 0.019 and 0.008, respectively). Five of 8 patients with hepatic vein thrombophlebitis had lung consolidation, whereas only 3 of 13 patients without hepatic vein thrombophlebitis had lung consolidation, although the difference was not significant (P = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple pulmonary nodules and DVS were associated with EMI. Hepatic and pulmonary vein invasion are possible causes underlying the metastatic spread of infection.

[Liver abscess]

Liver abscess is a rare and severe infection. Incidence increases because of aging of population, advances in liver and biliary surgery including liver transplantation, and immunodeficiency factors. Diagnosis depends mainly on imaging and needle aspiration for microbiological identification. Treatment is based on antibiotics, percutaneous or surgical drainage, and control of the primary source.

Imaging findings of mimickers of hepatocellular carcinoma

Radiological imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as the noninvasive diagnosis of HCC in high-risk patients by typical imaging findings alone is widely adopted in major practice guidelines for HCC. While imaging techniques have markedly improved in detecting small liver lesions, they often detect incidental benign liver lesions and non-hepatocellular malignancy that can be misdiagnosed as HCC. The most common mimicker of HCC in cirrhotic liver is nontumorous arterioportal shunts that are seen as focal hypervascular liver lesions on dynamic contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging. Rapidly enhancing hemangiomas can be easily misdiagnosed as HCC especially on MR imaging with liver-specific contrast agent. Focal inflammatory liver lesions mimic HCC by demonstrating arterial-phase hypervascularity and subsequent washout on dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging. It is important to recognize the suggestive imaging findings for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) as the management of CC is largely different from that of HCC. There are other benign mimickers of HCC such as angiomyolipomas and focal nodular hyperplasia-like nodules. Recognition of their typical imaging findings can reduce false-positive HCC diagnosis.

Impact of Regional Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae Liver Abscess

Klebsiella liver abscess (KLA) is an emerging infection in Asia caused by hypermucoviscous strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. It is associated with thrombophlebitis of portal and hepatic veins. The natural history and role of anticoagulation for this regional thrombophlebitis is unclear. In a retrospective study of 169 subjects with KLA over 7 years, thrombophlebitis was identified in 53/169 (31.4%). Only 1 received therapeutic anticoagulation. Despite this 30/49 (73.2%) of those with follow up scan available showed improvement or recanalization (mean duration between scans 44 days). Abscess resolution was associated with improvement in thrombophlebitis.

Analysis of clinical and CT characteristics of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses: an insight into risk factors of metastatic infection

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical and CT characteristics of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA), with or without metastatic infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical information (age, sex, clinical symptoms, underlying disease, hematological parameters, abscess-related mortality) and CT characteristics of abscesses were analyzed to investigate associations with metastatic infection. Metastatic infections were divided into septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) and extra-pulmonary metastatic infection (EMI).

RESULTS

We identified 66 consecutive patients with KPLA. Metastatic infection occurred in 22/66 patients (33.3%); 8/66 (12.1%) patients had SPE, 6/66 (9.09%) patients had EMI; and 8/66 (12.1%) patients had both SPE and EMI. Patients with SPE were younger than patients without SPE (47.7±13.7 y vs.55.6±12.0 y; p=0.03). Unilocular abscess was significantly more common in patients with SPE than the non-SPE group (43.75% vs 18.0%, p=0.036). The mean maximal diameter of EMI was 56.5±21.3 mm and was significantly smaller than that of the non-EMI which was 79.9±31.4 (p=0.011). SPE was significantly associated with development of EMI (50% vs 17.3%, p=0.011).

CONCLUSION

Unilocular liver abscess is associated with SPE, and SPE is strongly associated with EMI among patients with KPLA. A maximal diameter of KPLA<55 mm can be used as a predictor of EMI.

The association of haemoglobin A₁C levels with the clinical and CT characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses in patients with diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES

To compare the characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses (KPLA) in diabetic patients with different levels of glycaemic control.

METHODS

The institutional review board approved this retrospective study. A total of 221 patients with KPLA were included. Clinical features of KPLA were compared. We divided the 120 diabetic patients with KPLA into three subgroups based on haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) concentration (good, HbA1C ≤ 7.0 %; suboptimal, 7.0 % < HbA1C ≤ 9.0 %; poor, HbA1C > 9.0 %). In this study, we used a semiautomated quantitative method to assess the gas and total abscess volumes in KPLA. Statistical analysis was performed with the chi-squared test and one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

The mortality rate did not significantly differ between the nondiabetic and diabetic groups. However, patients with poor glycaemic control had significantly more complications and therefore a longer hospital stay (P < 0.05). In our study, CT and quantitative analyses found that patients in the group with poor glycaemic control had a significantly higher incidence of gas formation and hepatic venous thrombophlebitis and a higher gas-to-abscess volume ratio than patients with suboptimal and good glycaemic control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetic patients with a high HbA1C concentration (>9.0 %) have an association with hepatic venous thrombophlebitis, gas formation and metastatic infection complications associated with KPLA.

KEY POINTS

• Poorly controlled diabetes is associated with complications in Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses. • Hepatic venous thrombosis and gas are important signs of metastatic infection. • Hepatic venous thrombophlebitis is associated with 72.7 % of metastatic infections.

Perfusion and parenchymal changes related to vascular alterations of the liver

Imaging plays a significant role in the diagnosis of vascular abnormalities of the liver and sometimes provides the only clue to the correct diagnosis. With advances of imaging techniques and multiphasic acquisition of liver imaging, various perfusion changes are frequently encountered. Correct imaging diagnosis of significant vascular diseases can prompt appropriate work-up and timely management. Accurate differentiation of clinically insignificant perfusion phenomena from clinically significant findings including neoplastic conditions and in the setting of post-transplantation is essential. This pictorial essay illustrates various perfusion and parenchymal changes associated with portal venous inflow, hepatic venous outflow, and non-portal venous third inflow and describes brief background pathophysiology and differential points.

Successful hepatectomy for intraperitoneal rupture of pyogenic liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is the most common cause of pyogenic liver abscess in eastern Asia. KP liver abscess commonly presents as a single large abscess with a predominantly solid consistency. It is sometimes unsuitable for percutaneous catheter drainage because of the poorly liquefied contents. Antibiotic therapy alone may raise a probability of treatment failure and occurrence of complications such as abscess rupture. Hepatic or portal venous thrombosis, hematogenous spread, and spontaneous rupture also occur frequently. We report a case of KP liver abscess with a typical solid appearance, complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation, spontaneous rupture, and pyogenic spondylitis.

CT appearance of pyogenic liver abscesses caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae

PURPOSE

To retrospectively compare the computed tomographic (CT) features of liver abscesses caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae with those caused by other bacterial pathogens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, with waiver of informed consent. Hospital records of all patients with a diagnosis of liver abscess between July 2003 and July 2010 were retrieved from an electronic hospital database. One hundred and thirty-one consecutive patients with confirmed pyogenic liver abscesses were studied. Data on clinical presentation, comorbid conditions, septic hematogenous complications, hospitalization duration, and abscess-related mortality were obtained. CT characteristics of abscesses including number, distribution, unilocular or multilocular appearance, cystic or solid appearance, gas in cavity, pylephlebitis, thrombophlebitis, and pneumobilia were reviewed. Etiology was established by pus and/or blood culture. Patients were placed into a monomicrobial K pneumoniae liver abscess group and a comparison group. A comparison of the CT features and clinical findings between the two groups was performed. The χ(2) analysis or Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables, and Student t and log-rank tests were used for continuous variables. A P value of less than .05 was considered to indicate a significant difference.

RESULTS

Monomicrobial K pneumoniae liver abscesses were present in 92 cases (70.2%). On CT images, characteristics more likely to be associated with monomicrobial K pneumoniae liver abscesses than other pyogenic liver abscesses were a single abscess (79.3% vs 56.4%, P = .01), unilobar involvement (82.6% vs 61.5%, P = .01), solid appearance (57.6% vs 35.9%, P = .03), multilocular (94.6% vs 71.8%, P = .01), association with thrombophlebitis (30.4% vs 5.1%, P < .01), and hematogenous complications (28.3% vs 7.7%, P < .01). Thrombophlebitis was associated with higher incidence of hematogenous septic complications (50.0% vs 13.9%, P < .001). Monomicrobial K pneumoniae liver abscesses were associated with significantly shorter duration of antibiotic treatment (P = .018) and hospital stay (P = .005), but there was no significant difference in incidence of septic shock and abscess-related mortality as compared with other pyogenic liver abscesses.

CONCLUSION

Monomicrobial K pneumoniae liver abscesses appear as single, solid, or multiloculated liver abscesses and are associated with thrombophlebitis and septic hematogenous complications.

Correlations between MDCT features and clinicopathological findings of hepatic paragonimiasis

AIM

To illustrate the MDCT features of hepatic paragonimiasis and correlate the results with clinicopathological findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen patients (8 male, 10 female; mean age 37years) with hepatic paragonimiasis were included in this study. MDCT features of their hepatic lesions were retrospectively reviewed and correlated with clinicopathological findings.

RESULTS

All patients were lifelong residents in endemic areas of paragonimiasis, especially Paragonimiasis skrjabini variety. Abdominal pain or discomfort, fever and high eosinophil percentage were the predominant clinical features. In total, 21 lesions were detected on MDCT images, 18 (85.7%) directly contacted the hepatic capsule and 3 (14.3%) were adjacent to the capsule. Segment V (26%), VIII (26%) and VI (18.5%) were the most commonly involved sites. Sixteen lesions (76%) were conglomerated cystic or multilocular and 5 (24%) were solid. On plain MDCT scan, the margin and internal detail of the lesions were not clear except for one cystic variety, while they were clearly demonstrated on enhanced images. Single or multiple cysts with different diameters were commonly detected in the non-solid lesions, and some of them were mutually connected with tortuous tract formation. Among the solid lesions, 2 and 3 showed tubular and homogeneous enhancement, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Peripherally distributed lesions, mutually connected cysts with tortuous tract formation, and tubular enhancement, which may be closely associated with the infection route and migration of the worm, could be seen as the main MDCT features of hepatic paragonimiasis.

Clostridium perfringens liver abscess after pancreatic resection

BACKGROUND

Liver abscess is a rare complication after pancreatectomy. Clostridium perfingens is a rare cause of intrahepatic infections.

CASE REPORT

A 65-year-old woman with pancreatic cancer underwent explorative laparotomy, during which encasement of the hepatic artery by the tumor was found. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy with capecitabine was started, which caused tumor regression, and duodenopancreatectomy was performed. The portal vein was occluded and infiltrated by cancer and therefore was resected and not reconstructed. After a slow recovery, the patient developed hemorrhage at the gastrojejunal anastomosis, which was controlled by fibrin injection. Within a few days, she presented with signs of sepsis, and blood cultures yielded Clostridium perfringens, Streptococcus oralis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The source of the sepsis proved to be a 9-cm liver abscess, which was drained; cultures grew C. perfringens, Hafnia alvei, and Enterobacter cloacae. Despite antibiotic treatment, the patient died from sepsis and multiorgan failure 27 days after pancreatic surgery.

CONCLUSION

Such rare infections can follow pancreatic resection with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. Clostridium perfringens-associated liver abscess maintains a high mortality rate.

Hepatic venous outflow obstruction after hydatid cyst surgery: evaluation with contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to present the contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography findings of hepatic venous outflow obstruction in patients in whom surgery had been performed for hepatic hydatidosis. No patient history of parasitic hepatic venous invasion or earlier hepatic venous outflow obstruction is present.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four men and three women with a history of hydatid cyst surgery underwent contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography between April 2001 and June 2006. The mean age was 37.7 years. The mean time duration between the last date of surgery and the date of magnetic resonance angiography imaging was 65.5 months. The site of the hydatid cyst was the right lobe in two patients, the medial segment of the left lobe in two patients, the liver dome in two patients, and the conjunction of the right lobe anterior-left lobe medial segments in one patient. One patient had undergone total and one patient had undergone partial lobectomy, and cystectomy was performed in five patients.

RESULTS

On magnetic resonance angiograms, nonvisualization or stenosis of the hepatic veins was detected in all cases. In one patient thrombosis and in another patient severe stenosis of the inferior vena cava were associated. The portal hilum was displaced anterosuperiorly in five patients. Intrahepatic collaterals were present in six patients and extrahepatic collaterals were seen in three. Associated thrombosis in the left portal vein was found in two patients.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that patients with complicated hydatid cysts and who have had postoperative complications should be checked not only for recurrence or abscess formation, but also for vascular changes. magnetic resonance angiography is a useful alternative imaging technique and can provide useful information at one session within several minutes in patients who had undergone surgery for hydatid cyst of the liver.