There was no significant difference in relation to the resolution of fever , abscess size , and hospital stay .
The beneficial effects of PA were seen with medium-to-large ( > 5 cm ) ALA and not with small ( < 5 cm ) ALA .
Percutaneous aspiration as compared with metronidazole alone results in the early resolution of pain and tenderness in patients with medium-to-large ALA .
Percutaneous catheter drainage is better for larger ALA .
The role of metronidazole alone , percutaneous aspiration ( PA ) , and percutaneous catheter drainage ( PCD ) in the treatment of uncomplicated amebic liver abscess ( ALA ) is still unclear .
This systematic review and meta- analysis evaluated the available evidence s with regard to treatment modalities in such patients .
Treatment of amoebic liver abscess with metronidazole alone or in combination with ultrasound-guided needle aspiration: a comparative, prospective and randomized study.
Thirty-nine patients with amoebic liver abscess ( ALA ) , admitted to the Central Hospital of Hué ( Vietnam ) , were evaluated in a comparative , prospect i ve and r and omized study for the treatment of ALA . Adult patients with an abscess located in the right liver lobe and an abscess diameter of 6 to 10 cm were included . Bacterial abscesses were excluded by microbiological examination of abscess fluid in all patients . Nineteen patients were treated with metronidazole for 10 days alone and 20 patients were punctured under ultrasound guidance with aspiration of abscess fluid in addition to drug administration . The clinical symptoms fever , pain in right upper abdomen and liver tenderness , and the laboratory parameters erythrocyte sedimentation rate , white blood cells , haemoglobin and C-reactive protein and the abscess size were determined on the day of admission and followed during an observation period of 38 days . Improvement of liver tenderness was significantly faster in the aspiration group during the first 3 days ( P < 0.001 ) , whereas all the other parameters showed no differences between the two groups . This minor benefit is obviously not sufficient to justify routine needle aspiration and advocates drug treatment alone for uncomplicated amoebic liver abscesses with a diameter up to 10 cm located in the right liver lobe
There was no significant difference in relation to the resolution of fever , abscess size , and hospital stay .
The beneficial effects of PA were seen with medium-to-large ( > 5 cm ) ALA and not with small ( < 5 cm ) ALA .
Percutaneous aspiration as compared with metronidazole alone results in the early resolution of pain and tenderness in patients with medium-to-large ALA .
Percutaneous catheter drainage is better for larger ALA .
The role of metronidazole alone , percutaneous aspiration ( PA ) , and percutaneous catheter drainage ( PCD ) in the treatment of uncomplicated amebic liver abscess ( ALA ) is still unclear .
This systematic review and meta- analysis evaluated the available evidence s with regard to treatment modalities in such patients .