Fever of unknown origin: the value of abdominal exploration.
The decision to perform exploratory laparatomy in search of the cause of prolonged fever should not be made hastily. The operation is not benign, and before the patient is subjected to it, a meticulous medical evaluation should be made. A number of recently developed diagnostic techniques are invaluable aids to the physician challenged by this diagnostic dilemma.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans