title: [Diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal abscesses].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retroperitoneal abscesses are rare but life threatening. Renal, perinephritic, and paranephritic abscesses are distinguished depending on their location and extent. They are mainly caused by ascending urologic infections of gram-negative bacteria.
  The variable symptomatology often leads to delayed diagnosis resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Typical symptoms are flank or abdominal pain, decreased appetite, weight loss, malaise, fever, and chills. Laboratory values show increased leukocytes and C‑reactive protein. Creatinine levels may also be increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If there is clinical evidence for a retroperitoneal abscess, sonography generally leads to further diagnostic via computed tomography. Small abscesses may be treated by antibiotics alone. Abscesses larger than 3 cm and those not responding to medical treatment should be percutaneously or surgically drained.
authors.affiliation: Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Lessingstraße 1, 07743, Jena, Deutschland. barbara.winter@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Ziegelmühlenweg 1, 07743, Jena, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajda
authors.affiliation: Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Lessingstraße 1, 07743, Jena, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M-O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Grimm
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotics; Computed tomography; Drainage; Infection, ascending; Infection, urogenital