A hepatic abscess is a collection of pus within the liver, caused by bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infection. On ultrasound, a liver abscess typically appears as a complex, predominantly hypoechoic or anechoic mass with irregular, thick walls and internal debris or septations. The abscess may contain gas, which appears as bright, echogenic foci with dirty shadowing. Pyogenic liver abscesses are most commonly caused by biliary disease or direct spread from abdominal infections, while amebic abscesses result from parasitic infection. Ultrasound is the primary imaging tool for detecting liver abscesses and is commonly used to guide percutaneous drainage, where a needle or catheter is placed into the abscess to remove the infected material.
Sonography Term