Amebic Liver Abscess: Fine Needle Aspiration Diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: To describe the findings in fine needle aspiration (FNA) of an amebic liver abscess (ALA). Study Design: Seven patients (6 men and 1 woman between 52 and 60 years of age) treated for amebic dysentery with multiple liver lesions were selected for ultrasound (US)-guided FNA. The clinical differential diagnosis was malignancy. Abdominal US of the patients revealed multiple, variably sized, well-defined, hypoechoic, cystic liver lesions. FNA of these lesions was performed. Results: Smears of the aspirated material showed necrotic material with mixed inflammatory cells and Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites consisting of round blue bodies with well-defined borders containing a single, eccentrically located nucleus with central karyosome and engulfed red blood cells in the cytoplasm. There were also Charcot-Leyden crystals. ALA was diagnosed. Conclusion: FNA can yield the correct diagnosis of ALA and allows early initiation of treatment. ALA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of space-occupying lesions of the liver.