Unusual multiple large abscesses of the liver: interest of the radiological features and the real-time PCR to distinguish between bacterial and amebic etiologies

Abstract

We report a rare case of amebiasis generating 19 large liver abscesses. Such a quantity of abscesses is rare, especially when occurring in a young casual traveler without any immunodeficiency disorders. A possible co-infection was excluded. By contrast, the amebic etiology was confirmed by means of serology and real-time PCR.

Keywords:

• Multiple abscesses
• Amebiasis
• Computed tomography
• Entamoeba histolytica
• PCR

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr Oussama Mouri (Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris – France) for his precious help in the implementation of the Entameba dispar/histolytica PCR. The authors are very grateful to Donam Kim, Jérôme Desoubeaux, and Kay Mc Carthy-Cerf from the Pedagogical Department of English learning in the Medical School of Tours University for their precious help with the English translation.