THE INFRACONAL COMPARTMENT - A MULTIDIRECTIONAL PATHWAY FOR SPREAD OFDISEASE BETWEEN THE EXTRAPERITONEAL ABDOMEN AND PELVIS

Purpose: The space below the kidneys where the anterior and posterior pararenal spaces converge has been defined only vaguely in the past. W e describe observations on clinical CT cases and studies on cadavers t hat lead to a refinement in the terminology for this extraperitoneal c ompartment. Method: Abdominal/pelvic CT scans from 18 patients and the scans of 2 cadavers injected in the femoral region with iodinated con trast material were reviewed concerning the location and distribution of fluid or gas collections relative to the renal fascial enclosure. R esults: Pathologic processes involving the anterior or posterior parar enal spaces in addition to the pelvic extraperitoneal spaces were alwa ys accompanied by collections in the space below the cone of renal fas cia. Conclusion: The term infraconal compartment is a suggested term f or the caudal continuation of the anterior and posterior pararenal spa ces. This compartment serves as an important multidirectional pathway for the spread of disease between the extraperitoneal abdomen and the pelvis. Fluid collections within this compartment have a characteristi c CT appearance.