Therapeutic aspiration in addition to metronidazole to hasten clinical or radiologic resolution of uncomplicated amoebic liver abscesses cannot be supported or refuted by the present evidence. The trials lack methodological rigour and adequate sample size to conclude on the presence of effectiveness of adjunctive image-guided aspiration plus metronidazole versus metronidazole alone. Further randomised trials are necessary.
Amoebic liver abscess: ultrasonographic characteristics and results of different therapeutic approaches.
This prospective study was carried out on 33 patients with clinically, serologically and ultrasonographically confirmed amoebic liver abscess. All patients were randomly treated with metronidazole and chlorochin or a combination of medicamentous therapy and percutaneous drainage. Ultrasonographic characteristics of amoebic liver abscesses were rotound or oval shape, usually hypoechogenic content with specific dorsal sonic enhancement, and in the majority of cases, location near liver capsule. Shorter duration of amoebic liver abscess resolution time in the group of patients treated with the combined therapy was observed particularly in the first four weeks of the treatment. The authors concluded that percutaneous drainage in combination with medicamentous therapy represents a successful therapeutic approach in the treatment of amoebic liver abscesses.