[Computer tomographic appearances of intra-abdominal abscesses (author's transl)]

CT diagnosis of intraabdominal abscess was confirmed in 18 patients by laparatomy and in two by autopsy. In CT abscess is characterized by an expansive soft-tissue lesion with different density values, mostly with a central fluid collection and a thickened wall. The peripheral inflammatory reaction leads to obliteration of fat planes surrounding the adjacent organs. Further symptoms are contrast enhancement of the wall and extraluminal gas collection. The combination of all these signs together with a suitable history and clinical findings allow a reliable diagnosis of abscess formation. When only isolated signs are found, differentiation from tumor, pseudocyst or hematoma may be difficult.