[Primary retrofascial abscess in the iliopsoas muscle caused by salmonella enteritidis.]

This case report and review of literature demonstrates a rare entity of a primary retrofascial abscess in the iliopsoas muscle caused by Salmonella enteritidis, that progressed into the iliac fossa. It is of importance to the orthopedic surgeon in his differential diagnosis of hip pain and vertebrogenic disorders. It can also resemble other infectious diseases or tumors as it occurs mainly in young or imunosuppressed individuals. The primary and secondary etiology of this disease and it's different names are discussed together with the underlying bacteria. Clinical, laboratory and radiological findings are compared as well as the outcome of different types of treatment. When clinically suspecting this disease it is useful to confirm it with sonography and then perform CT scans for accurate planing of surgery. n the initial phase a CT guided drainage together with antibiotics and exceptionally only conservative treatment can cure the patient. In delayed cases it is necessary to preform an open drainage and cases with fatal outcomes have also been reported mainly in secondary abscesses. If early diagnosed and properly treated, this disease can be easily managed, therefore we have to keep it in mind in our differential diagnosis of indicated cases. Key words: primary pyogenic retrofascial abscess of the iliopsoas muscle, iliac fossa abscess, nontuberculous psoas abscess, psoitis, Salmonella enteritidis, clinical diagnosis, radiological diagnosis, surgical treatment, antibiotic treatment, ethiology.