PERCUTANEOUS CATHETER DRAINAGE OF TUBERCULOUS PSOAS ABSCESSES

Six patients with 7 tuberculous psoas or ilio-psoas abscesses were tre ated by CT-guided catheter drainage and chemotherapy. The abscesses (5 unilateral and 1 bilateral) were completely drained using a posterior or lateral approach. The abscess volume was 70 to 700 ml (mean 300 ml ) and the duration of drainage 5 to 11 days (mean 7 days). Immediate l ocal symptomatic improvement was achieved in all patients, and there w ere no procedural complications. CT follow-up at 3 to 9 months showed normalization in 5 patients, 2 of whom are still on medical therapy. O ne patient, who did not take the medication regularly, had a recurrent abscess requiring new catheter drainage after which the fluid collect ion disappeared. Percutaneous drainage represents an efficient and att ractive alternative to surgical drainage as a supplement to medical th erapy in the management of patients with large tuberculous psoas absce sses.