This study was carried out in 25 patients with liver abscesses admitted to Shri Sayajirao Gaekwad Hospital and Medical College, Baroda during a 32-month period from July 1999 to April 2002. Of these, 24 were male and 1 female. Diagnosis of liver abscess was made on the basis of clinical history and examination followed by an USG. CT scan was not routinely performed. Abdominal pain (n=24) and fever (n=22) were the commonest presenting symptoms whereas jaundice with altered liver function tests was demonstrated in 4 patients.
Elevated total white blood cell count (WBC count > 10,000/cumm) was found in 3 patients (12%). Hematological investigations which included bleeding time, clotting time and prothrombin time were performed in all the patients and were found to be within normal limits. USG showed involvement of right lobe in 21 (84%), left lobe in 1 (4%) and involvement of both lobes in 3 (12%) patients. Serological tests, which are often performed for diagnosis of amoebic liver abscesses were not performed in any of our patients due to their unavailability in our hospital and financial constraints. A chest x-ray was performed in all the patients.