INTRAABDOMINAL ABSCESSES

In more than 80 % of cases, intra-abdominal abscesses derive from an i ntra-abdominal organ, and in most cases they develop after operative p rocedures. Regarding anatomy, intra-abdominal abscesses can be devided into intra-peritoneal and visceral abscesses and those located in the anterior retroperitoneal space. Despite improvements in ultrasonograp hy, CT is still the most effective method in diagnosis and therapy. Pe rcutaneous ultrasound or CT-guided drainage is a therapy characterized by low procedural morbidity and is successful in 80 % of cases if str ict criteria are met. Complicated abscesses and those cases in which t he underlying disease has to be treated require surgical intervention. Most liver abscesses are treated interventionally; in abscesses of th e pancreas or spleen and in Crohn's disease, surgery is necessary. The combination with sufficient antibiotic drug therapy is very important . Specific infectious diseases appearing as intra-abdominal conglomera tes (tuberculosis, actinomycosis, amebiasis) lead to a delay in diagno stics because of their scarcity and are characterized by special patho -anatomical, diagnostic and therapeutic features. The crucial thing is to take a specific infection into consideration.