title: Pyogenic liver abscesses: 13 years of experience in percutaneous needle aspiration with US guidance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of percutaneous needle aspiration (PNA) with antibiotic therapy in treatment for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifteen patients (59 male; 56 female; age range, 16-86 years; mean age, 45.3 years) with 147 PLAs (mean diameter, 6.8 cm; range, 3-16 cm) underwent PNA with ultrasound (US) guidance and antibiotic therapy. Needle caliber (22-16 gauge) was tailored to PLA volume. If necessary, PNA was repeated every 3-7 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred one PNAs were performed (range, 1-4 per patient; mean, 2.2 per patient). A single puncture was sufficient in 57 patients. Cure (normalization of clinical and laboratory parameters and resolution of hepatic lesions) was achieved in 113 patients (98.3%). Two patients with large PLAs required surgery. Patients were hospitalized 7-24 days (mean, 9 days). In the last eight patients, all abscesses were evacuated in one session. Neither complications nor deaths ensued. Recurrence of PLA was not observed in any patient during follow-up (6-36 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US-guided PNA with antibiotic therapy in treatment for PLA is a valid alternative to prolonged catheter drainage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Cotugno Hospital for Infectious Disease, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giorgio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mariniello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Francica
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nuzzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzatto
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents