Clinics in diagnostic imaging (71). Left iliopsoas abscess secondary to vertebral osteomyelitis

A 26-year-old woman presented with a progressively painful lump at her left groin and upper thigh for five months. She also had intermittent back pain for three years. Radiographs and CT showed osteolytic destruction of the several contiguous thoracolumbar vertebrae with a large left iliopsoas abscess that extended to involve the left gluteus maximus and adductor magnus muscles. She responded well to a course of antibiotics. The role of imaging and imaging features of iliopsoas abscesses are discussed, together