The clinical value of ultrasound in the diagnosis and therapy of liver abscess

Objective To summarize the characteristics of the ultrasonography for the typical liver abscess,the atypical liver abscess and special liver abscess.Methods A total of 117 cases with liver abscess were examined by ultrasound examination and ultrasonic contrast(11 cases) and reviewed after therapy.The characteristics of position,form,size,echo and blood flow distribution of liver abscess lesions were observed and followed to evaluate examination,laboratory test results of abscess fluid(62 cases) and operation(29 cases).Results A total of 91 in 117 cases were typical liver abscess(77.8%) with round or round-like lesion and the low internal echo.No echo liquefaction,necrosis or a honeycomb-like structure was shown.Twenty-two cases were atypical liver abscess(18.8%)with heterogeneous low or middle echo of lesions.Four cases were the special type of liver abscess(3.4%)with gas-like strong echo.A total of 106 cases were detected(90.6%)with liver abscess by two-dimensional ultrasound before operation,but 11 cases(9.4%) were not clear,by which ultrasonic contrast showed the peripheral arterial phase enhanced,portal venous phase with various enhanced degrees,low enhanced delay phase.No increase was always visible within the lesion.Of all 117 cases,91 cases had lesions and the lesions in 26 cases were eliminated or vanish.Conclusions The ultrasound and ultrasonography are the top choice of imaging method in patients with liver abscess for accurate identification and qualitative diagnosis of liver abscess lesions.Two-dimensional ultrasound showing atypical liver abscess images under diagnosis can be diagnosed by contrast ultrasound.