title: Splenic abscess. An old disease with new interest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the demographics, signs and symptoms, causes, risk factors, imaging findings, bacteriologic profile, treatment and outcome of patients with splenic abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 17 patients with splenic abscess at two tertiary-care hospitals between 1989 and 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic data, physical and radiological findings, treatment, bacteriology reports and outcome of treatment were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 43 years (range 7-79 years). Fever and abdominal pain were the most prominent signs. Seven patients were immunocompromised, three had abscessed hydatic cysts, two were drug users and three suffered from splenic trauma, infarction, and endocarditis, respectively. No predisposing factor was identified in 2 patients. In all cases, CT demonstrated the splenic lesion(s). Staphylococcus species and Bacteriodes were the most common microbes, identified in the blood and abscess cultures. Thirteen patients underwent splenectomy, two medical therapy and two no therapy with respective survival rates of 92, 100 and 0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Splenic abscess is a rare surgical entity encountered mostly in immunocompromised patients. CT scan is the gold standard for the definite diagnosis. Splenectomy is the treatment of choice, while medical therapy should be reserved for unusual pathogens provided that an effective antimicrobial agent is available.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smyrniotis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kehagias
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Voros
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fotopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambrou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kostopanagiotou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kostopanagiotou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy