Anaerobic liver abscesses as initial presentation of silent colonic cancer.
BACKGROUND
Rarely, multiple liver abscesses caused by anaerobic organisms are the presenting form of unsuspected colonic cancer in the absence of liver metastases.


METHODS
A 68-year-old man was admitted with abdominal pain, fever and chills. Imaging scans and repeated cytology yielded a diagnosis of multiple liver abscesses. Pus cultures grew Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Peptostreptococcus spp. A search for the underlying cause led to the discovery of an adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. After a 12-month postoperative follow-up, the patient is free of hepatic metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Anaerobic liver abscesses should always alert the clinician to possible silent colonic carcinoma.
Alvarez
J A
JA
Service of General Surgery, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés, Spain. josealvar@telecable.es
Baldonedo
R F
RF
Bear
I G
IG
Alvarez
P
P
Jorge
J L
JL