Tuberculosis as an Etiological Factor in Liver Abscess in Adults

Abstract

Background. Tuberculosis of the liver without active pulmonary or miliary tuberculosis is considered as an uncommon diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the etiological role of tuberculosis in adult patients presenting with features of liver abscess. Methods. A total of 40 patients with liver abscess were included in the study. The liver abscess aspirate was subjected to microscopy, culture, and polymerase chain reaction to determine the role of tuberculosis as an etiological factor in liver abscess. Results. Of the 40 patients enrolled, 25% (10/40) were diagnosed with having tubercular liver abscess. In a total of 40 specimens, 2.5% (1/40) were positive for acid fast bacilli by Ziehl-Neelsen method, while 10% (4/40) were positive for M. tuberculosis by culture using BACTEC 460 and the yield increased to 25% (10/40) by polymerase chain reaction for M. tuberculosis. Conclusion. 25% of the patients presenting with liver abscess had tubercular etiology without features of active pulmonary or miliary tuberculosis. Liver can act as the primary site of involvement in the absence of activity elsewhere in the body. Tuberculosis should be considered as an important differential diagnosis of liver abscess irrespective of evidence of active tuberculosis elsewhere in the body.

Pediatric Liver Abscess: Trends in the Incidence, Etiology, and Outcomes Based on 20-Years of Experience at a Tertiary Center

“…Hepatic TB accounts for 1.2% of all TB cases and TB liver abscesses develop in 0.34% of hepatic TB cases (35). Overall, about 25 cases of isolated TB liver abscess have been reported in the English literature before 2003, while pediatric cases remain scarce (35)(36)(37)(38). The diagnosis of a TB abscess remains challenging because of the lack of a specified presentation and the limited yield of tests.…”

Isolated tuberculosis liver abscess in an immunocompetent patient

“…1 TLA without active pulmonary or military TB is a rare entity. 2 Patients usually present with nonspecific symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Here, we present a case of an isolated TLA in an immunocompetent patient, in which the patient had symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever, with no specific findings to suggest TLA on radiological imaging.…”

Tuberculous liver abscess as a unique cause of liver abscess: A case report and literature review

“…Hepatomegaly is a common finding on examination, but jaundice is rarely encountered and usually suggests biliary involvement in the form of extra or intrahepatic obstruction. There is no apparent link between the severity of liver disease and jaundice [ 7 ]. Isolated TLA is a very rare condition but should always be considered when a patient has a liver abscess, especially if from an endemic region.…”