A review of autopsy files and clinical case reports demonstrates two categories of splenic abscess. First, the abscesses discovered at postmortem usually are multiple, small manifestations of widespread, lethal infection in immunologically crippled hosts. A clinical diagnosis seldom is made. Second, the splenic abscesses encountered by the clinician are usually solitary, large, and challenge his diagnostic skills. Recognition is of vital importance, for therapy can be highly successful. Left untreated, the mortality rate is very high. The features, clinical management, and pathogenesis of splenic abscesses are discussed.
对尸检档案和临床病例报告的回顾显示出两类脾脓肿。第一，在尸检时发现的脓肿通常是多个，是免疫功能受损宿主中广泛致死性感染的微小表现。很少能做出临床诊断。第二，临床医生遇到的脾脓肿通常是单个、较大的，对其诊断技能构成挑战。认识到这一点至关重要，因为治疗可能非常成功。若不治疗，死亡率很高。本文讨论了脾脓肿的特征、临床处理及发病机制。
