We describe herein the case of a psoas abscess complicating Crohn's disease
, and present a review of the literature on this unusual disease entity. A
22-year-old Japanese man with a 5-year history of Crohn's ileocolitis prese
nted with right lower abdominal and hip pain, and a diagnosis of right psoa
s abscess was subsequently made by abdominal computed tomography (CT). Foll
owing the administration of antibiotics and CT-guided percutaneous drainage
of the abscess, the patient's symptoms temporarily improved; however, 2 we
eks later, the abscess cavity was found to have extended around the periart
icular tissue of the right hip joint. To prevent the development of septic
arthritis of the hip joint, surgical drainage of the abscess cavity and ile
ocecal resection were immediately performed, after which the patient's cond
ition greatly improved. The resected specimen showed Crohn's ileocolitis wi
th an external fistula in the terminal ileum which was considered to have c
aused the psoas abscess. Since psoas abscess in Crohn's disease can result
in serious complications such as septic arthritis of the hip joint if left
untreated, aggressive treatment should be initiated without delay.