Tuboovarian abscess 12 years after total abdominal hysterectomy

Pelvic inflammatory disease affects nearly 1 million women in the United States each year, and 10% of cases are complicated by the formation of tuboovarian abscess. Most tuboovarian abscesses occur in women with intact cervical and uterine anatomy.

A 38-year-old woman presented with acute abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, and the presence of a pelvic mass. Surgical exploration revealed a tuboovarian abscess. The patient's history was significant for total abdominal hysterectomy for cervical dysplasia 12 years before presentation.

This case challenges the current theories for the pathogenesis of tuboovarian abscess. Furthermore, it supports the importance of considering tuboovarian abscess in the differential diagnosis with acute abdominal pain and pelvic mass despite previous hysterectomy.