[The accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal abscess formations].

During the last two years 73 patients with a total number of 84 abdominal abscesses have been investigated by ultrasound. Two thirds of the patients (67%) had postoperative abscesses. Spontaneous abscesses occurred in the remaining 33%. Multiple abscesses occurred in the postoperative group only (7 patients). The overall sensitivity in detecting an abscess was 84%. The sensitivity was much better with spontaneous abscesses (92%) than with postoperative abscesses (80%). One third of the patients have also been investigated by computed tomography. The diagnosis was confirmed either by needle aspiration or by operative drainage. Ultrasound was most useful in detecting abscesses in the right and left upper quadrant and in the pelvis, while CT was superior in the mid-abdomen and when dealing with multiple abscesses.