Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42455474›Full record

ReviewEmergency radiology2026

Hepatic abscess on CT: pearls, pitfalls and diagnostic challenges.

Zahra F Rahmatullah, Hajra Arshad, Linda C Chu, Satomi Kawamoto, Elliot K Fishman

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Emergency radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Zahra F RahmatullahDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3262, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA. zrahmat3@jh.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-0513-6323
Hajra ArshadDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3262, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Linda C ChuDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3262, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Satomi KawamotoDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3262, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Elliot K FishmanDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, JHOC 3262, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Hepatic abscess (HA) poses a diagnostic challenge worldwide, with up to around 80% of cases initially missed in emergency settings. This can be attributed to their clinical and imaging appearance varying considerably depending on the underlying pathogen and abscess type. Computed tomography (CT) remains the primary imaging modality for evaluation, and this pictorial essay highlights the characteristic imaging features of the subtypes of HA which include pyogenic, amebic, fungal, and hydatid infections. Key imaging findings discussed include the cluster sign and double target sign in pyogenic abscesses, the solitary right subcapsular morphology of amebic abscesses, the disseminated microabscess pattern of fungal infections in immunocompromised hosts, and the daughter cysts with peripheral calcifications characteristic of hydatid disease. Furthermore, HA has neoplastic mimickers which can demonstrate similar imaging characteristics. The diagnosis is further complicated as patients with known malignancies or surgical intervention are prone to developing HA. This pictorial review highlights the key imaging features that enable radiologists to recognize HA on CT in emergency settings and differentiate it from its most clinically significant mimics.

Indexed as

Liver AbscessTomography, X-Ray ComputedContrast MediaDiagnosis, DifferentialHumansContrast MediaAmebic abscessFungal abscessHydatid diseaseLiver abscessPyogenic abscess

Identifiers

PMID42455474

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.