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 .
Uncomplicated amebic liver abscess: prospective evaluation of percutaneous therapeutic aspiration.
The performance of therapeutic aspiration in the treatment of amebic liver abscess , advocated and practice d in many centers , is controversial . Previously , this practice has been evaluated in retrospective analyses . To test the potential benefit of therapeutic aspiration , the authors undertook a prospect i ve r and omized trial in 57 patients admitted for suspected amebic liver abscess during a 15-month period . Sixteen patients were excluded from the trial . The remaining 41 patients were r and omly included in one of two study groups to receive amebicidal therapy alone or amebicidal therapy coupled with image-guided percutaneous therapeutic aspiration . All patients in the trial recovered . No statistically significant benefit was demonstrated in the aspiration group for the two objective parameters evaluated : length of hospitalization and duration of time to becoming afebrile . Subjective improvement in symptoms after aspiration was greater in the aspiration group at a marginally statistically significant level . These data do not support the adjunctive performance of percutaneous therapeutic aspiration in the treatment of uncomplicated amebic liver abscess . Amebicidals alone were equally efficacious in treating the group studied
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 .