title: Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in retroperitoneal abscess.
abstract: Abscesses developing within the retroperitoneal spaces are complicated and serious infections. These abscesses present insidiously, leading to considerable mortality and morbidity. A high clinical suspicion can help diagnose and treat this potentially fatal illness. Computed axial tomography is the best diagnostic modality for retroperitoneal abscess. Computed tomographic scan is useful, not only for diagnosing the retroperitoneal abscess, but can be used for therapeutic drainage of abscesses in high-surgical-risk patients. We present an illustrative case of retroperitoneal abscess and discuss the pathogenesis of retroperitoneal abscess, diagnosis, and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Quillen Veterans Administrative Medical Center, Johnson City, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tunuguntla
authors.forename: Rafi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hudgins
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004322:Drainage; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed