PRIMARY PYOGENIC ABSCESS OF THE PSOAS MUSCLE

During a six-year period, eleven persons with primary pyogenic abscess of the psoas muscle were treated at the Mackay Memorial Hospital. Fiv e were males and six were females and their average age was 47.2 years (range 6-83 years). The abscess was identified by CT in 7 patients, M RI in 2 and ultrasonography in 1. One abscess was found during laparot omy. Treatment included extraperitoneal drainage of the abscess in 7 p atients and CT guided aspiration in 3. One patient improved after anti biotic therapy and they all recovered after treatment. The diagnosis o f primary pyogenic abscess requires a high index of suspicion and the best treatment is early operative drainage and administration of syste mic antibiotics.