We present the case of a 43-year-old West African male with a past medical history of untreated hepatitis B and chronic alcohol abuse. He complained of a one-week history of fever, chills, and worsening right upper quadrant abdominal pain with nausea and nonbloody, billous vomiting. The pain was described as being dull in nature, nonradiating, exacerbated by deep inspiration, and 8/10 in severity on the numeric rating scale. He also mentioned having a progressive and persistent nonproductive cough of the same duration. These symptoms began three weeks after he returned from a one-month vacation in West Africa.\nOn presentation, he was febrile with a temperature of 100.8 F, his heart rate was 108 beats per minute and he had tachypnea of 25 breaths per minute. Physical examination of the abdomen was significant for a persistent diffuse abdominal pain, most pronounced in the right hypochondrium, which hindered effective palpation of the liver borders. Exam of the thorax was significant for rapid shallow breathing with resultant decreased breath sounds diffusely, most pronounced over the right lung base. Hematological investigation was significant for a WBC of 30,500/μL (4500–11000/μL) with 80% polymorphonuclear leukocyte count (57–67%). AST/ALT was mildly elevated at 70/51 U/L (7–40 U/L) with an albumin of 2.7 g/dL (3.5–5.5 g/dL) and mildly elevated prothrombin time and INR of 15.4 s (11–15 s) and 1.42 s (0.8–1.2 s), respectively. Additionally, his PTT was also elevated at 36.7 s (20–35 s) and his D-dimer was elevated at 5.7 mg/L (0.2–0.7 mg/L). Of note, the bilirubin and creatinine were within normal limits.\nDue to positive D-dimer, tachypnea, tachycardia, and high suspicion of pulmonary embolism (Wells score of 4.5), given recent long distance travel, CT scans of the chest and abdomen with contrast were done. It found multiple left lower lobe subsegmental, right lower lobe, and right upper lobe segmental pulmonary emboli. There were also four small, scattered nonspecific pulmonary nodules. There was a 7 mm noncalcified lateral anterior right upper lobe nodule. There were pleural-based anterior bilateral upper lobe noncalcified nodules measuring up to 4 mm on the right and there was also a 3 mm lateral basal right lower lobe noncalcified nodule as well as a posterior left apical pleural-based 3 mm noncalcified nodule (). Also discovered were thrombosis of the hepatic portion of the IVC and left hepatic vein () and a large, irregular, heterogeneous marginated mass in the left hepatic lobe with a complex appearance and extensive enhancing septa, measuring approximately 8.5 × 9.6 × 6.8 cm. This appearance was highly suggestive of an abscess in the presence of concurrent CT evidence of colitis (). Transthoracic echocardiogram was only significant for moderate tricuspid regurgitation with a pulmonary arterial pressure of 39 mmHg but it was negative for intracardiac thromboembolism.\nAt this time, amebic liver abscess was the leading differential; hence, he was admitted and started on metronidazole 500 mg intravenously every eight hours along with warfarin bridged with unfractionated heparin for pulmonary emboli.\nHe remained hospitalized for twelve days, during which time serum antibody for Entameba histolytica was positive (confirming diagnosis) and AFP and CEA were found to be within normal limits ruling out possible malignancy. Work-up for underlying hypercoagulable states including factor V leiden, protein C, and protein S were all within normal limits and lower extremity duplex scan found no evidence of deep vein thrombosis. Since the clinical picture was highly suggestive for ALA and the patient was responding well, we believed further confirmatory test were unnecessary as it would not have changed our management. He finished a ten-day course of metronidazole with gradual amelioration of his fever, abdominal pain, and normalization of liver enzymes. He was subsequently discharged on paromomycin for seven days and continued on warfarin to follow as an outpatient.
A 6-year-old malnourished boy was referred with a history of fever of 1-month duration, pain in right upper abdomen, loose motions, and vomitings for 14 days. The prior medical history was unremarkable. The physical examination revealed tachycardia and tachypnea. There was hepatomegaly with tenderness and guarding in the upper abdomen with ascites. On chest auscultation, the air entry was diminished on left side. Blood investigations are tabulated in . The chest radiograph showed left pleural effusion. An ultrasound showed a large single abscess of 94 ml in the left lobe of liver closely abutting the intra-hepatic vena cava. An echogenic lesion of 27 mm length extended from abscess to the IVC. Ascites was also noted. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of abdomen revealed left lobe liver abscess in segments II and III. The thrombus was visible in the middle and left hepatic veins together with a thrombus in the IVC which extended up to the right atrium [].\nTwo-dimensional-echocardiography confirmed the above findings. The patient tested positive for amebic antibody by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Broad spectrum antibiotics including metronidazole had been started by the referring institute. The patient was taken up for surgical intervention on an emergency basis. Median sternotomy and vertical pericardiotomy were performed. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established with aortocaval cannulation. After cooling to 20°C, cardioplegic arrest was achieved with root cold blood cardioplegia. Total circulatory arrest was established. Right atrium was opened parallel to the atrio-ventricular groove. Piecemeal extraction of the thrombus was done [].\nThe IVC was thoroughly irrigated with normal saline. The circulation was temporarily restarted to flush any small remnant thrombus in the IVC. The right atrium was closed and circulation was restarted. Trans-esophageal echocardiography confirmed complete removal of thrombus. Cardiopulmonary bypass was weaned off after re-warming. Left pleural cavity was drained with a tube. After reversal of systemic heparinization, the abdomen was opened by a roof top incision and the falciform ligament was divided. The left triangular ligament was divided to mobilize the left lobe. The abscess was palpable in the postero-superior aspect of segment II lying just left of the divided falciform ligament. It was adhered to the diaphragm which was dissected free and then the abscess was de-roofed. About 100 ml of anchovy sauce pus was drained from the abscess cavity. Lavage was performed followed by placement of tube drain in left sub-diaphragmatic space. Pus was sent for examination which failed to reveal any trophozoites on microscopic examination and was negative for pyogenic organisms. The patient was discharged on 10th post-operative day. The patient is on regular follow-up and he is in good health at 6 months from the date of operation.