Ruptured hepatic abscess: a rare cause of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum.

A 68-yr-old woman who developed an acute abdomen with clinical and radiological evidence of pneumoperitoneum is is described. At surgery, multiple left lobe hepatic abscesses were identified. Perforation of one abscess was apparent. Bacteriological studies revealed Streptococcus faecalis and gas-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from the abscess cavities. Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum secondary to a ruptured hepatic abscess has to our knowledge never been reported.