Q; Aspiration of the amebic liver abscess is usually not recommended but may require under few conditions like danger of the rupture or if diagnosis remains doubtful. What characteristic of amebic liver abscess should be kept in mind while aspirating or draining it? 


Answer:  It is very hard to recover amebae from the aspirate as they tend to present only in the peripheral areas of the abscess, busy invading and destroying adjacent tissue. Usually aspiration of amebic liver abscess is discouraged as they may increase the risk of amebic peritonitis, bleeding and others.


References/further reading: 

1. Bammigatti C, Ramasubramanian N, Kadhiravan T, Das AK. Percutaneous needle aspiration in uncomplicated amebic liver abscess: a randomized trial. Trop Doct. 2013 Jan. 43(1):19-22. 

2. Khanna S, Chaudhary D, Kumar A, et al. Experience with aspiration in cases of amebic liver abscess in an endemic area. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005 Jun. 24(6):428-30.