Hepatic necrobacillosis. Report of a case resembling metastatic tumor.

A 47-year-old man had multiple pyogenic liver abscesses from which the anaerobic bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum and Peptostreptococcus were isolated. The clinical course, diagnostic evaluation, and appearance of the lesions at surgery suggested metastatic tumor. Histologically, the lesions consisted of necrotic liver tissue surrounded by zones of acute and chronic inflammation and fibrous connective tissue closely resembling the lesions of hepatic necrobacillosis attributable to F necrophorum. Treatment with high doses of penicillin was curative.