Diagnosis of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · South. Med. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-198108000-00009· OSTI ID:5309488

Sonnenwirth-Ozar, E; Pollak, E W

Clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and radionuclide findings of 40 patients with operatively proven intra-abdominal abscesses were evaluated to determine their degree of diagnostic accuracy. Correct preoperative diagnosis was established by clinical, laboratory, and simple radiologic technics in 24 (60%) patients, whereas more sophisticated imaging procedures were used in 16. Gallium citrate Ga 67 scan was done in nine and was positive in six, ultrasonic scan was positive in seven of 16, and computerized tomography in six of eight patients. In 12, two consecutive imaging procedures were used. Concordant results were obtained in eight, of which five were accurate and three inaccurate. Of the four remaining patients with discordant results, the second imaging procedure was incorrect in three and correct in one instance. Accordingly, sophisticated imaging procedures were done in only 40% of patients and were accurate in 75% of less of cases. Furthermore, addition of a second imaging procedure did not increase diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, these technics, while improving the previously existing diagnostic means, should be still considered less than perfect and their negative result should not exclude the need for diagnostic celiotomy when clinical findings are highly suggestive of intra-abdominal abscess.

• OSTI ID: 5309488
• Journal Information: South. Med. J.; (United States), Journal Name: South. Med. J.; (United States) Vol. 74:8; ISSN SMJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
550602 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
550901 -- Pathology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ABDOMEN
ABSCESSES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS
CITRIC ACID ESTERS
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC USES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ESTERS
GALLIUM 67
GALLIUM ISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATHOLOGY
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
TOMOGRAPHY
USES