title: Percutaneous needle aspiration of multiple pyogenic abscesses of the liver: 13-year single-center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to report 13 years of experience in the management of multiple pyogenic liver abscesses with only percutaneous needle aspiration of the abscess cavities under sonographic guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 1991 to October 2004, 39 consecutively registered patients (29 men and 10 women; age range, 37-82 years; mean age, 64 years) with 118 pyogenic liver abscesses were treated with sonographically guided percutaneous needle aspiration at our institution. The number of pyogenic liver abscesses per patient ranged from two to 15 (mean, 3.0).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-seven percutaneous needle aspirations were performed on 39 patients with 118 pyogenic liver abscesses (range, 1-4 aspirations per patient; mean, 2.2 aspirations per patient). Because they were close to another aspirated abscess in the right lobe of the liver, 31 (26.3%) of 118 abscesses were aspirated without removal of the needle from the liver. Thirty-six (92.3%) of 39 patients were treated with a single aspiration of an abscess in a single session. The other three patients needed two aspiration sessions. No patient needed imaging-guided percutaneous catheter drainage or open surgical drainage. Complete reconstitution of liver parenchyma occurred within a maximum of 80 days. No abscesses recurred during the follow-up period, which ranged from 7 to 42 months (mean, 18 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous needle aspiration of multiple pyogenic abscesses under sonographic guidance is a safe, effective, and low-cost procedure. In our experience, percutaneous needle aspiration was acceptable to patients. Our data suggest that a trial of percutaneous needle aspiration should always be undertaken before catheter drainage or surgery.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Ultrasound in Infectious Diseases Unit, D. Cotugno Hospital, Via Quagliariello 54, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giorgio
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Stefano
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Sarno
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liorre
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferraioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046290:Liver Abscess, Pyogenic / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods