title: [Psoas abscess as a differential diagnosis in emergency department].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A psoas (or iliopsoas) abscess is a rare clinical entity with a wide etiological range. It is defined as a collection of pus that begins and extends through the iliopsoas muscle and can reach up to the inguinal region.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective descriptive study by reviewing medical records from the General Surgery department of Reina Sofía's General University Hospital. Information was collected from patients diagnosed with psoas abscess who were admitted to the General Surgery department from 2006 to 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five cases were reported for 6 years: four males (80%) and one female (20%). Average age was 51.6 years (range: 35--75). All were admitted to the hospital through the Emergency Department. Lumbar pain, fever and rash were clinical features in three patients. Two patients initiated with septic shock. Each patient had computed tomography performed, which confirmed the diagnosis. Causes of the abscess were as follows: one perforated colon neoplasm, two left hip osteomyelitis, one Crohn's disease and one primary abscess. Surgery was the treatment in three cases and placement of pigtail drainage was the treatment in two patients. Two patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and ultimately died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our case series report, it is seen that treatment delay developed to septic shock and death. We should consider this entity in emergency practice in order to carry out timely treatment.
authors.affiliation: Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain. maria.vi.ru@gmail.com.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vicente-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: María de la Fe
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Candel-Arenas
authors.affiliation: Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Marín
authors.affiliation: Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peña-Ros
authors.affiliation: Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Cifuentes
authors.affiliation: Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albarracín Marín-Blázquez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016659:Psoas Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Psoas; absceso, abdominal; abscess, abdominal; emergency; urgencias