Splenic abscesses in typhoid fever: US and CT studies

Salmonella typhi splenic abscesses (SA) are traditionally considered to be a rare complication of typhoid fever (TF). Our prospective study in an extensive series of patients was aimed at demonstrating that the incidence of SA was usually underestimated. Four hundred patients were systematically examined by abdominal ultrasound (US) at the time of proven biological diagnosis of TF, which was the 2nd week of admission. Twenty patients with persistent or recurrent symptoms (despite adequate treatment) or with acute lower thoracic pain were followed by US and CT. In eight patients both imaging modalities revealed anomalies compatible with SA.