Intraabdominal abscesses: Image-guided diagnosis and therapy

Intraabdominal abscesses may complicate many illnesses including diverticulitis, pancreatitis, and appendicitis, or they may occur during the postoperative period. As new methods of imaging are developed that provide additional information on patients with these abscesses, earlier and more accurate diagnoses can be made, allowing for prompt intervention. With the advent of these new imaging methods, techniques for treatment of abscesses by percutaneous drainage have been developed. In light of these advances, we review the current strategies for the management of intraabdominal abscesses.