Internal Medicine (Tokyo, 1992) 2012-01-01

Pleural empyema secondary to rupture of amoebic liver abscess.

Huai-Ren Chang, Jen-Jyh Lee, Chih-Bin Lin

Index: Intern. Med. 51(5) , 471-4, (2012)

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Abstract

Amoebiasis is a worldwide parasitic infection although it is more prevalent in the subtropical and tropical countries. Extraintestinal amoebic infections currently have been reported in increased numbers of male homosexuals and immunocompromised patients. Here, we present an interesting case of a 27-year-old homosexual man with pleural empyema secondary to rupture of amoebic liver abscess. Using chest tube and percutaneous liver abscess drainage, the patient was treated with metronidazole followed by iodoquinol. His general condition improved dramatically. After one-year of follow-up, there was no evidence of relapse on plain chest radiography and abdominal CT scan.