CASE REPORTS   

Chirurgia 2012 April;25(2):119-23

Copyright © 2012 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Pneumoperitoneum resulting from the rupture of a pyogenic liver abscess

Mariani F., Bonazzi G., Brigidi G., Cafferati M., De Filippis F., Genovese E., Ghersi T., Grammatico V., Marchigiano E., Roberti L., Cumbo P.

Struttura complessa di Chirurgia Generale, ASL TO5, Ospedale San Lorenzo, Carmagnola, Torino, Italia

A 57-year-old woman was admitted to emergency department of our hospital with worsening abdominal pain and nausea. Abdominal radiograph showed a minimal pneumoperitoneum and at surgery the sources was found to be a ruptured liver abscess. We document this unusual presentation of liver abscess and a brief review of the literature that show as liver abscess is commonly associated with underlying gastrointestinal pathology. Seeking out this underlying etiology is an integral part of management.