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Splenic abscess

L L Ooi1, R Nambiar, A Rauff

  • 1Department of Surgery, Singapore General Hospital.

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery
|October 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Isolated splenic abscesses are rare and often diagnosed late due to non-specific symptoms. While Pseudomonas was a common cause in this series, splenectomy remains the preferred treatment over antibiotics alone.

Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Isolated splenic abscess is an infrequent clinical diagnosis.
  • Clinical manifestations are often vague, leading to diagnostic delays.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of isolated splenic abscess.
  • To highlight the role of diagnostic imaging and identify common pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of seven cases of splenic abscess diagnosed between 1980 and 1990.
  • Analysis of clinical data, diagnostic imaging (specifically computerized tomography), and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Computerized tomography (CT) provided accurate diagnosis in all reviewed cases.
  • Pseudomonas species, an uncommon pathogen, was identified in three of the seven cases.
  • Antibiotic therapy alone proved insufficient for successful treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Splenic abscess diagnosis is often delayed due to non-specific symptoms.
  • CT is crucial for accurate diagnosis of splenic abscess.
  • Splenectomy is the recommended treatment of choice for splenic abscess, with antibiotic therapy alone being insufficient.

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