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Herein, a rare case of a spontaneous rupture of a liver abscess, resulting in pneumoperitoneum, is reported. A 71-year old female with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, developed an acute abdomen. The chest X-ray and plain abdominal radiography findings revealed bilateral subphrenic free air, and the computed tomography suggested the rupture of a gas-containing pyogenic liver abscess in the left hepatic obe, extending to the lesser omentum. An emergency laparotomy was performed, there was a ruptured pyogenic liver abscess in the left lobe, but no perforation of the hallow viscus organ. A left lobectomy of the liver, with surgical drainage, was performed. The occurrence of pneumoperitoneum secondary to the intraperitoneal rupture of a pygenic liver abscess, is extremely rare. The condition is associated with high mortality as they are often misdiagnosis at a late stage as a hollow viscus perforation. Recently advances in computed tomography and ultrasound have resulted in liver abscesses being detect earlier. It must be born in mind that a rupture of a gas-containing liver abscess can also mimic a perforation of the gastrointestinal tract.
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