Combined Pleuropulmonary, Pericardial and Hepatic Amebiasis

Summary

A 35-year-old Rwandese patient presented with a dramatic multisystem disease, involving heart, lungs and liver. The final diagnosis of disseminated abscedating amebiasis was suggested by the clinical picture combined to the echographic presentation of the diseased organs revealing multiple cavities: the diagnosis was confirmed by echographically guided aspiration of the cavity contents. The combined involvement-of liver, lungs and pericardium by amebic abscesses occurs rarely and may be confused with other diseases where cardiac and pulmonary lesions coexist. Echography may help reach the correct diagnosis, by guiding the puncture of amebic fluid collections.