Subphrenic abscess: the radiological approach

Subphrenic abscess will continually plague the post-laparotomy patient. The high mortality associated with these abscesses can be reduced by diagnosing and draining them early. In 42 patients with 55 subphrenic abscesses, the most important diagnostic modality proved to be conventional radiographs of the abdomen allowing 65% of the subphrenic abscesses to be detected. Other procedures were largely confirmatory in suspicious cases. Thus ultrasound is useful in right subphrenic suprahepatic abscesses while modified upper and lower gastrointestinal studies allow rapid diagnosis of extra-intestinal abscess gas or mass effect.