Scintigraphic diagnosis and development of hepatic amoebiasis in children

The authors studied 300 cases of children with diagnosed liver abscess caused by E. histolytica. A scintigraphic diagnosis was made in 99% of the cases. The study confirms the statement that liver scintigraphy is a supporting method of diagnosis which indicates the site, number and size of the liver abscesses. When following the sequence from start to finish of the resolution of the imaged defect it was observed that the time varies according to (a) the size of the abscess and (b) the number of abscesses. Initiation of regeneration was observed most often between the third and fourth week after treatment commenced. The greater the number of lesions and the larger their size, the more time was required to achieve regeneration. In the case of lesions less than 5 cm in size, complete resolution was achieved within the first six months of treatment. No direct relationship was observed between the nutritional level and the resolution time. In cases with complications the time for complete resolution was prolonged. This method is a highly sensitive one that can be very useful in monitoring clinical progress and evaluating the treatment applied. The benefit obtained by the patients studied was greater than the radiobiological risk. (author)