Disappearance of Amebic Abscess

To the Editor: In the Case Record of October 30, entitled “Pulmonary Disease Associated with a Disappearing Abdominal Mass,”” the question of what happened to the contents of the amebic abscess of the liver does not appear to have been adequately explained. ten Broeke and Fred, in their study entitled “Bilateral Pulmonary Amebiasis” (Amer Rev Resp Dis 96:1233–1235, 1967), reported a case very similar in nature to the case in question. Their patient had a more protracted course, with fever, cough and chills five months before death, and symptoms of persistent bilateral chest pain beginning three months before death. Post-mortem ….