Liver abscess

What it means

A localized, circumscribed collection of purulent material (pus) within the liver parenchyma, typically resulting from a bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infection. Unlike hepatitis, which is often diffuse, an abscess is a focal lesion.

Unlike hepatitis, which is typically a diffuse inflammatory process, a liver abscess is a focal, localized collection of pus within the liver parenchyma. In addition to being a secondary complication of biliary or intra-abdominal infections, it is a characteristic manifestation of phagocytic defects (e.g., chronic granulomatous disease) and specific innate immune defects, such as NEMO deficiency.

Rare diseases that can present with this14

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Hepatic abscess · Purulent hepatic collection