Three cases of liver abscesses complicated with colon cancer without liver metastasis: importance of screening for digestive disease

Intern Med. 2007;46(24):2013-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.46.0080. Epub 2007 Dec 17.

Abstract

We treated 3 patients complicated with colon cancer without liver metastasis, who were admitted to our hospital because of a high fever and diagnosed with liver abscesses. In a general screening after performing percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage, colon cancer was detected in each, though hepatobiliary diseases were not found. Hepatobiliary diseases were the most common etiology of hepatic abscesses in our hospital in the past 41 cases from 1990 to 2005, 3 of which were due to colon cancer. If a cause is not determined, general screening, especially of the colon tract, should be performed in hepatic abscesses patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / complications*
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Aged
  • Colonic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colonoscopy
  • Humans
  • Liver Abscess / diagnosis
  • Liver Abscess / etiology*
  • Liver Abscess / pathology
  • Male