PSEUDOTUMORAL TUBERCULOSIS OF THE LIVER

The authors report 5 cases of pseudotumoral tuberculosis of the liver. They essentially involved young men from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Clinically, poor general condition with massive weight l oss was constant, while pyrexia and hepatomegaly were sometimes absent . Hepatobiliary ultrasonography revealed hypoechogenic or even anechog enic lesions between 1.5 and 3.5 cm in diameter. Diagnostic confirmati on was histological after needle biopsy. The outcome after antibiotic treatment with or without drainage, was recovery, with ultrasonographi c normalization of the liver, in all patients, with a mean follow-up o f 22 months.