Pediatric Abdominal Abscess

  • Etiology: Perforation of bowel
  • Imaging US: Swirling and movable internal contents and debris with compression
  • Imaging CT: Rim-enhancing fluid collection
  • DDX: Phlegmon – one way to distinguish abscess from phlegmon on US is to look for mobile contents with compression as an abscess will have liquid contents
  • Complications:
  • Treatment: Percutaneous or surgical drainage
  • Clinical:

Radiology Cases of Abdominal Abscess

Radiology Cases of Abdominal Abscess Due to Perforated Appendicitis

CT of abdominal abscesses
Axial CT with contrast of the abdomen and pelvis shows low density fluid collections with enhancing rims anterior to the spleen (above), in the right pelvis (middle) and posterior to the bladder and anterior to the rectum (below).

Radiology Cases of Abdominal Abscess Due To Infected Hematoma as a Complication of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

CT of abdominal abscess in an infected hematoma
Axial (above) and coronal (below) CT with contrast of the abdomen shows an isodense oval fluid collection inferior to the liver and superior and lateral to the right kidney.