[Hepatic brucelloma (pseudotumoral brucellar caseous necrosis of the liver). Study of a case and review of the literature].

We report the case of a 43 year-old Portuguese woman, hospitalized for long-standing fever, fatigue and weight-loss. Biologic investigation demonstrated anicteric cholestasis. Abdominal plain film showed a single hepatic calcification; computerized tomography and ultrasonography of the liver led to the discovery of a large mass, centered by the calcification. C. T.-guided biopsy showed caseiform necrosis, surrounded by histiocytic and lymphocytic cells. Brucella agglutination tests were negative at the beginning of the illness but became positive secondarily. The germ was not isolated from the hepatic fragment. The melitine intradermo-reaction was positive. Outcome was rapidly favorable with antibiotic treatment. Analysis of the 14 previously published cases showed that the most constant features were the hepatic calcifications and the epidemiologic context.