What condition is most commonly associated with pyogenic liver abscess caused by portal vein seeding?

The condition most commonly associated with a pyogenic liver abscess caused by portal vein seeding is appendicitis. This occurs because bacterial infections from the inflamed appendix can spread through the portal circulation, leading to the development of abscesses in the liver.

When the appendix becomes infected and subsequently perforates, bacteria can enter the venous system and travel through the mesenteric veins into the portal vein, causing seeding in the liver. The liver is particularly susceptible to portal vein infections, and this route can result in the formation of pyogenic abscesses, especially in the absence of significant underlying liver disease.

While conditions like cholecystitis and pancreatitis can also lead to intra-abdominal infections and abscesses, appendicitis represents a more direct route for bacteria entering the portal circulation, making it the most common association with this specific type of liver abscess. Hepatitis typically involves liver inflammation rather than an infectious process leading to abscess formation.