[A case of pulmonary amebiasis]

Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi. 2008 Jul;46(7):542-6.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea and right abdominal pain. Chest X-ray radiogram showed right massive pleural effusion. Ultrasonic echogram of abdomen showed a unilocular liver cyst. He was treated with intravenous infusion of meropenem, and percutaneous pleural and liver drainage were performed. At the time of drainage, we injected contrast medium into the liver cyst and confirmed a fistula connecting to the right pleural space. Initially we made a diagnosis of bacterial empyema and liver abscess, yet there was no response to the initial treatment. Cultures of pleural effusion and liver abscess were confirmed to be negative. A few days after admission, the patient stated that he was a homosexual. Liver amebiasis and its perforation became the most likely diagnosis, and metronidazole was administered. On admission day 21, tests for anti-amebic antibody were positive. Finally he fully recovered. We must be aware of the rare pulmonary manifestation of amebiasis. We report this case and review the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amebiasis / etiology*
  • Empyema, Pleural / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Liver Abscess, Amebic / complications*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged