INTRAABDOMINAL ABSCESSES - EMPHASIS ON IMAGE-GUIDED DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY

Infection of the peritoneal cavity can be divided into acute peritonit is and chronic abscess formation. While acute peritonitis is easier to diagnose and treatment is often straightforward, the diagnosis of an intra-abdominal abscess can be subtle and treatment can involve multip le diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The advent of high-quality c omputed tomography and ultrasonography has revolutionized the care of these patients, and has allowed for the definitive management of these infections without open operation. We review the current techniques f or the diagnosis, localization, and treatment of these serious infecti ons, discuss important factors influencing the decision between percut aneous and operative approaches, and examine several other controversi es in this challenging area.