Pyogenic hepatic abscess after percutaneous liver biopsy in a patient with sickle cell disease

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2005 Feb;27(2):103-5. doi: 10.1097/01.mph.0000153104.61517.4b.

Abstract

Liver abscess is a rare complication of liver biopsy but has not been reported in a patient with sickle cell disease (SCD) undergoing this procedure. The authors report the case of a child with SCD, on treatment with chronic transfusions and desferrioxamine, who developed a delayed liver abscess after a liver biopsy in which Avitene, a topical hemostatic agent, was used. This is the first description of a liver abscess as a possible complication of liver biopsy in a child with SCD. The presence of a hepatic abscess should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical abdominal pain in patients with SCD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / complications*
  • Biopsy / adverse effects*
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver Abscess, Pyogenic / etiology*
  • Male