title: Delayed recurrence of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess: an unusual case and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although intra-abdominal abscess is one of the major complications of abdominal surgery, the literature documents only a few cases of recurrence after a long asymptomatic period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report and literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 66-year-old woman developed a primary subphrenic abscess secondary to anastomotic leakage after total gastrectomy. Percutaneous drainage succeeded in evacuating the abscess cavity, and broad-spectrum antibiotics apparently eradicated the infection. However, a recurrent subphrenic abscess appeared eight years later with no intervening signs or symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unexpected outcome in this case may call into question the appropriate follow-up period after treatment for subphrenic abscess. Our experience indicates that clinicians should be aware of the possibility of rare delayed recurrence of intra-abdominal abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sekigahara General Hospital, Gifu, Japan. j2111706@guedu.cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osada
authors.forename: Kiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miya
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016971:Citrobacter freundii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D013369:Subphrenic Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed