[Liver abscesses secondary to sigmoid diverticulitis: report of four cases].
BACKGROUND
Pyogenic liver abscess often revealed by right sided abdominal pain and fever is a serious and life-threatening pathology. Biliary tract disease is the origin of the abscess in most cases but sometimes remains unidentified. A sigmoid septic source sometimes paucisymptomatic or hidden by an immunosuppressive treatment must be looked for.


METHODS
Here are four observations of liver abscesses, which are secondary to unknown sigmoiditis. The etiologic diagnosis was made either by abdomino-pelvic computed tomography or by enema with water-soluble products completed by a coloscopy. Each patient's liver abscesses were emptied by aspiration or catheter drainage in conjunction with antibiotics. Surgical treatment of sigmoiditis was performed either at the same time or later.


CONCLUSIONS
Any liver abscess of unknown origin must lead to a search for unknown or disguised septic sigmoid pathology. Most of the time, injected abdomino-pelvic computed tomography makes the diagnosis possible, but enema associated with coloscopy is sometimes necessary.
Robert
M
M
Service d'urgence chirurgicale, CHLS, 69495 Pierre-Bénite et EA 37-38, Faculté de médecine Lyon Sud, 69600, Oullius, France.
Paparel
P
P
Arnal
E
E
Voiglio
E
E
Caillot
J-L
JL
D000368:Aged; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000150:complications*