title: Retroperitoneal abscess: a presentation of colon carcinoma.
abstract: Retroperitoneal abscess as an initial manifestation of carcinoma of the colon is unusual. Inappropriate management of an unrecognized lesion is invariably fatal. Awareness of this uncommon presentation can lead to a precise preoperative diagnosis and appropriate therapy. The possibility of a perforated colon carcinoma should be considered in instances of unexplained retroperitoneal mass and infection, and a barium enema performed on all such patients. The authors report 3 cases and illustrate the radiological features of retroperitoneal abscesses due to perforated colon carcinoma.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed