title: Psoas abscess: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in six patients.
abstract: Psoas abscess (PA) is an infrequent clinical entity and presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Six cases are reported concerning diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. Clinical diagnosis is difficult because of non-specific symptoms. The primary psoas abscess has no definite etiology and is spread by hematogeneous route from a distant occult site. The PA can also be secondary to gastrointestinal pathology through direct infection of adjacent structures. The most common causes are Crohn's disease, appendicitis, diverticulitis and carcinoma. Routine laboratory evaluation is seldom useful for localizing the disease process. Conventional radiological techniques are often unhelpful. Modern imaging diagnosis techniques such as ultrasound and computerized tomography have allowed for a refinement in both the etiologic diagnosis and the treatment by means of CT-guided or ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of the abscess, thus avoiding surgical drainage in many cases. Immediately on diagnosis of PA prompt treatment is necessary. Percutaneous drainage should be performed whenever possible and in case of failure, surgical drainage should be practiced as well as intestinal resection, whenever indicated.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Jesus Lopes Filho
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matone
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Arasaki
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mansur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001938:Brazil; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D016659:Psoas Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents