COLD DEFECT ON INDIUM LEUKOCYTE SCANNING OF A HEPATIC-ABSCESS

Abdominal and, specifically, hepatic abscesses have always been diffic ult to diagnose clinically. The In-111 leukocyte scan has proven to be a valuable modality assisting in the diagnosis of an abscess. The aut hors present the case of a 64-year-old man who presented with vague cl inical symptoms and inconclusive laboratory data for a hepatic abscess . Both the ultrasound and CT scan were nondiagnostic; however, a disti nct cold defect within the liver on an In-111 leukocyte scan resulted in a liver biopsy, confirming the presence of an abscess. The potentia l causes of cold defects on In-111 WBC scanning and the limitations of this modality are discussed.