A case of retroperitoneal abscess: an unusual complication of cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis

K Shimanuki1, M Satake, A Sasaki

  • 1Department of Surgery, Fukushima Municipal Minamiaizu Hospital, Japan.

Insights

A 73-year-old man with biliary tract infection developed a retroperitoneal abscess. Magnetic resonance imaging effectively visualized the abscess, and ultrasound-guided aspiration successfully treated the condition.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Procedures

Background:

  • Acute biliary tract infection can lead to serious complications.
  • Retroperitoneal abscesses, particularly in the iliopsoas region, pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Observation:

  • A 73-year-old male patient presented with acute biliary tract infection.
  • The infection complicated with a retroperitoneal abscess extending from the subhepatic area to the iliopsoas muscle.

Findings:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved highly effective in delineating the full extent of the retroperitoneal abscess.
  • Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) was successfully employed to drain and resolve the abscess.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the utility of advanced imaging like MRI for complex abscesses.
  • Ultrasound-guided FNA offers a minimally invasive and effective treatment option for iliopsoas abscesses secondary to biliary infections.

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