# Abscess of the ligamentum teres hepatis and Arantius' ligament: A case report

## TL;DR

A rare case of simultaneous abscesses in two liver ligaments is reported, with successful treatment and no recurrence after surgery.

## Contribution

This is the first reported case of simultaneous abscesses in the ligamentum teres hepatis and Arantius ligament.

## Key findings

- A 72-year-old woman had abscesses in both the ligamentum teres hepatis and Arantius ligament.
- Surgery confirmed the diagnosis and resolved the symptoms with no recurrence after 19 months.
- Histopathology confirmed inflammation and pus in the affected ligaments.

## Abstract

Simultaneous abscesses of the ligamentum teres hepatis and Arantius' ligament are an extremely rare entity. The ligamentum teres hepatis (LTH) and the Arantius ligament are formed by the regression of the umbilical vein and venous ducts during embryonic period and are normally atretic in adulthood, which may recanalize in the case of portal hypertension. Even if the ligament is recanalized, in most cases only blood flows through it. It is very rare for abscesses to occur in these ligaments. Here we present a case with simultaneous LTH abscess and Arantius ligament abscess, a condition that has never been reported before. A 72-year-old female patient complained of epigastric discomfort and was diagnosed with an intra-abdominal tubular mass, which was confirmed to be the thickened LTH and Arantius ligament during operation. Postoperative specimens showed pus in the ducts and histopathological examination confirmed that the mass was the inflamed ligament. The patient's symptoms disappeared after the operation and there was no recurrence after 19 months of follow-up. Postoperative case data and related literature were reviewed. We here described in detail the characteristics and possible etiology of the disease.