Abstract
Retroperitoneal space abscesses are a life-threatening illness which is difficult to diagnose and treat because of both their rarity and insidious clinical manifestations. The insidious development of this illness is a challenge for all medical and surgical subspecialists. The discovery of the real source of the infection is very important but not always possible, and knowledge of the anatomy and borders of the retroperitoneal space is helpful in understanding all such atypical cases and for establishing a definitive treatment. Two cases are reported that are both characterized by rare causes, uncommon development, and atypical manifestation. The normally undefined inferior borders of some parts of the retroperitoneal space or previous retroperitoneal surgery could have been the cause of the abnormal and misleading development of the abscesses. Chronically infected organs can be the true origin of this abscess, and their discovery in a nonemergency situation is mandatory for complete surgical treatment. These cases show that knowledge of the anatomy of the retroperitoneal space is important to establish the suspicion of an abscess, to understand its manifestations, which are sometimes caused by a rare pathophysiology, and to initiate appropriate treatment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Crepps T, Welch J, Orlando R (1986) Management and outcome of retroperitoneal abscesses. Ann Surg 205:276–281
Stevenson E, Ozeran R (1969) Retroperitoneal space abscesses. Surg Gyn Obst 129:1202–1208
Cornud F, Billebaud T, Bonnel D, Delmas V, Benacerraf R, Moulonguet A (1986) Traitement des abcès du rein et du rétropéritoine par drainage percutané sous contrôle écographique: 18 cas. J Urol (Paris) 92:205–208
Ribbans W, Radcliffe A (1985) Retroperitoneal abscess following scleroterapy for hemorrhoids. Dis Colon Rectum 28:188–189
Van Rijssen H, Bosman C (1983) Retroperitoneal streptococcal phlegmon. Br J Surg 70:446
Karageorgis C (1990) A propos d'un abcès rétropéritonéal chronique d'origine appendiculaire, ou des dangers de l'antibiothérapie aveugle. Lyon Chir 86:349
Gordon D, Macchia R, Glanz S, Koser M, Laungani G (1987) Percutaneous management of retroperitoneal abscesses. Urology 30:299–306
Love L, Demos T (1984) Computed tomography of the retroperitoneal spaces. In: Siegelman S, Gatewood O, Goldman S (eds) Computed tomography of the kidneys and adrenals. Churchill Livingstone, New York, pp 1–27
Moulonguet A, Villey G (1983) Les abcès rétropéritonéaux aujourd'hui. Revue générale à propos de trois observations. Ann Chir 37:637–642
Moody T, Millis P, Cochran T, Williams D (1980) Computerized axial tomography in diagnosis of retroperitoneal abscess. Urology 16:536–538
Laor E, Schiffman Z, Reid R, Tolia B, Freed S (1985) On percutaneous drainage of retroperitoneal collections: when is primary surgery drainage preferable? Urology 26:114–116
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
La Greca, G., Racalbuto, A., Greco, L. et al. Retroperitoneal abscesses — rare causes and atypical manifestations: Report of two cases. Surg Today 25, 965–969 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312383
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312383