American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test

In the context of a liver biopsy, fever and abdominal pain occurring shortly after the procedure can indicate the development of an abscess. Liver biopsies, while generally safe, can occasionally lead to complications due to the invasive nature of the procedure.

The development of an abscess is a localized collection of pus that can occur as a result of infectious processes. During a liver biopsy, bacteria from the skin or the gastrointestinal tract can be introduced into the liver tissue. If the patient develops a fever along with abdominal pain, it raises the suspicion of an infection that has progressed to form an abscess. This is particularly notable in patients with underlying liver disease or immunocompromised states where the body's ability to combat infection is less effective.

While hematomas, hemorrhage, and infection are potential complications as well, they typically present with different clinical features or timing. A hematoma may lead to localized pain or a palpable mass but is less likely to present with fever unless there is secondary infection. Hemorrhage would usually present with more acute symptoms such as significant hypotension or shock rather than a low-grade fever, and while infection can occur, it typically presents in the context of clear signs of systemic infection rather than localized symptoms such as abdominal pain alone. Therefore,