Hepatic and thoracic amebiasis

Sonographic and radiographic findings were reviewed in 27 patients with hepatic amebiasis. Sonography usually demonstrated nonspecific, peripheral, hypoechoic lesions. The only diagnostic sonographic appearance was a combination of a hypoechoic lesion and diaphragmatic disruption, which was found in four patients. About 50% of the patients had accompanying radiographic abnormalities that were nondiagnostic. These included elevation of the right hemidiaphragm, basilar pulmonary infiltrates, and pleural effusions. Liver abscesses occasionally grew during the first 2 weeks of treatment even though the patients were responding well to medical therapy. Lesions frequently became more anechoic and better defined on follow-up examinations. Successfully treated abscesses may calcify rather than diminish.