Primary tuberculous liver abscess in an immunocompromised patient: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Isolated tuberculous abscess of the liver is an extremely rare clinical entity and represents a diagnostic challenge, as it can easily be confused with other hepatic lesions of infectious or tumoral origin. We report the case of a 67-year-old immunocompromised female patient with no known history of tuberculosis who was admitted for a liver abscess initially detected by abdominal computed tomography scan. Aspiration of the lesion revealed an infection involving Mycobacterium tuberculosis, confirmed by PCR analysis. The patient was treated with an appropriate antibiotic regimen of standard four-drug antituberculous therapy. Clinical and radiological follow-up showed progressive improvement, with complete recovery achieved after 6 months of treatment. This case highlights the importance of considering hepatic tuberculosis, particularly in endemic regions and in immunocompromised individuals.