Point‑of‑care ultrasound for the diagnosis of liver abscess in a patient with HIV in the emergency department: A case report

Zuluaga-Gómez,Mateo; Orjuela-Correa,Robinson Andrés; González-Arroyave,Daniel; Naranjo-Hernández,Daniel; Ardila,Carlos Martín

doi:10.3892/mi.2023.65

Point‑of‑care ultrasound for the diagnosis of liver abscess in a patient with HIV in the emergency department: A case report

Authors:
- Mateo Zuluaga-Gómez
- Robinson Andrés Orjuela-Correa
- Daniel González-Arroyave
- Daniel Naranjo-Hernández
- Carlos Martín Ardila
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Affiliations: Medicine Department, San Vicente Fundación Hospital, Rionegro 054047, Colombia, Basic Studies Department, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín 050010, Colombia
Published online on: January 3, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3892/mi.2023.65
Article Number: 5
Copyright: © Zuluaga-Gómez et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

A liver abscess is an entity that is rarely observed in the emergency department; therefore, it requires timely diagnosis by the clinicians who support this service. The early diagnosis of a liver abscess is challenging as variable and non‑specific symptoms are present; furthermore, symptoms may differ in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. To date, reports on the presentation of diagnostic ultrasound with point‑of‑care ultrasonography (PoCUS) are limited. The present case report study describes a patient diagnosed with HIV and the presence of a liver abscess confirmed by PoCUS performed in an emergency department. The patient presented with abdominal pain upon palpation in the right hypochondrium and in the thoracoabdominal area, which became more severe with inspiration. PoCUS revealed a hypodense intrahepatic image observed between segments VII and VI, with internal echoes suggestive of a liver abscess. Moreover, it was decided to perform tomography‑guided percutaneous drainage of the liver abscess. Antibiotic treatment with ampicillin/sulbactam and IV metronidazole was also commenced. The patient presented clinical improvement and was discharged on the third day.

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