The acute abdomen in the immune compromised host.
Recent advances in transplantation, oncology and AIDS therapy have greatly increased life expectancies of patients diagnosed with malignancy, auto-immune disorders and organ failure. However, as this immune compromised population grows, complications of such therapies have become a major source of morbidity and mortality. Classical clinical and laboratory evidence of intra-abdominal pathology may be absent in the immune compromised host. Consequently, the radiologist is increasingly called upon to diagnose acute intra-abdominal complications associated with immunodeficiency. This review explores the aetiology of the acute abdomen in the immune compromised host. The typical radiological appearances of the commonest conditions are illustrated. The challenges and limitations in the radiological diagnosis of these conditions are discussed.
Spencer
Simon P
SP
Department of Radiology, St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals, London, UK. simonpaulspencer@yahoo.com
Power
Niall
N
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D044504:Enterocolitis, Neutropenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography