Pyogenic hepatic abscess in infancy and childhood.

Five cases of childhood pyogenic hepatic abscess at Milwaukee Children's Hospital and 61 cases in the literature were reviewed. Hepatic abscess occurred most often in infants who had sepsis or umbilical infection. Cases in older children were associated with underlying host defense defects, particularly chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and leukemia. Common clinical findings were fever, abdominal pain and hepatomegaly. Radionuclide scan was useful in diagnosis of lesions larger than 2 cm. Small or microscopic lesions were diagnosed at autopsy. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common etiologic agent. Mortality in all evaluable cases was 27% in patients with CGD and 42% in those without CGD. Open drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice and should lower the mortality of this infection.