Impact of CT in patients with sepsis of unknown origin.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic relevance of CT in patients with sepsis of unknown origin.


METHODS
Sixty-three consecutive intensive care patients with suspicion of an abscess and negative or inconclusive previous radiological examinations were included. CT was performed using the helical technique. A total of 45 abdominal and 38 chest examinations were evaluated.


RESULTS
5/38 examinations of the chest revealed the source of sepsis (pleural empyema 2, lung abscess 1, mediastinitis 1, retrosternal abscess 1). 7/45 abdominal CT examinations showed the source of sepsis (intraabdominal abscess 2, hepatic abscess 3, intestinal perforation 1, gangrenous colitis 1).


CONCLUSIONS
CT is useful for the evaluation of patients with fever or sepsis without a known source. Due to the detection of a septic focus by CT, 19% of the patients in our study could be immediately referred to causal therapy as percutaneous drainage or surgery.
Barkhausen
J
J
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Essen, Germany.
Stöblen
F
F
Dominguez-Fernandez
E
E
Henseke
P
P
Müller
R D
RD
D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017091:Colitis, Ischemic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D018805:Sepsis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed