SEPTIC PULMONARY EMBOLI SECONDARY TO PYOGENIC LIVER-ABSCESS IN A DIABETIC PATIENT

A 70-year-old woman with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus was admit ted because of persistent remittent fever. Soon a liver abscess was de tected as the cause of the fever by ultrasonography, and antibiotic th erapy was started. However, suddenly serious dyspnea with chest and ba ck pain developed. The morbid condition was definitely diagnosed as se ptic pulmonary emboli (SPE) with pulmonary perfusion scan. It should b e recognized that liver abscess can be a latent focus of systemic meta static complications such as SPE, and not only early detection but als o prompt appropriate drainage of liver abscesses is essential.