Twelve patients with intrahepatic abscesses were examined with computed tomography and ultrasonography between 1979 and 1988. The median size of the lesions was 7 (1-12) cm. They were in 8 patients located only in the right liver lobe and in 3 in both liver lobes. On ultrasonography the echogenicity of the abscesses varied from hypo- to hyperechoic which is consistent with tumours. The final diagnosis of abscess was achieved by fine needle puncture and aspiration for bacterial culture. Nine patients were treated with percutaneous drainage. 3 of them with two catheters, and all received systemic antibiotic treatment. All patients survived the treatment.