Letter to the Editor
Intrahepatic Expansion of Amebic Liver Abscess Can Also Generate Life-Threatening Complications
Abstract
To the Editor:
Although extrahepatic manifestations of amebic liver abscess (such as the ones listed by Shrestha et al) are the most memorable life-threatening complications of this disorder, it is also worth remembering that even when an abscess is confined to the liver substance, intrahepatic extension can cause damage to vital structures such as intrahepatic vasculature and the intrahepatic biliary system, thereby generating life-threatening complications such as hemobilia.1,2 Timely recognition and prompt treatment of this complication can be life-saving, as seen in the case of a 17-year-old patient who initially presented with upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, which was followed within a few days by ligation of a branch of the hepatic artery for definitive treatment of hemobilia.2
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