Splenic Abscess: Three cases report

Kim, Mi Jin; Nam, Hae Joo; Choi, Won Hee; Lee, Tae Sook

Abstract

Splenic abscess is uncommon, but often fatal entity characterized by high mortality rate which ranges from 60 to 100%, due to nonspecific clinical presentation and failure to preoperative definitive diagnosis. Clinical symptom or simple X-ray was not helpful in diagnosing splenic abscess. Perhaps the most useful information was obtained from the scanning and computerized tomography. Emphasis is placed on the necessity for prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention when splenic abscess was suspected. We have experienced three cases of splenic abscess. Case 1 was a 59 year-old male patient; the cause was possibly direct spreading from pancreatitis; The culture demonstrated klebsiella oxytoca. Case 2 was a 42 year-old female patient; the abscess was produced by preceding infarct. Case 3 was a 64 year-old female; metastatic adenocarcinoma was identified in the soft tissue around spleen, that suggest causative factor. All three cases showed multiple abscesses.