Intrarenal abscess. Report of 14 cases.

Six of 14 patients with renal abscess had prior history of urinary tract infection; initial symptoms included fever and flank pain in 12. A drip-infusion intravenous pyelogram was the most sensitive radiologic test, but selective renal arteriography was most specific. Urine cultures were positive in all 14 patients; blood cultures were positive in nine. Six patients were treated with antibiotics alone and eight required surgery. Of the eight, five had pus-filled cavities, one had multiple stones, one had a renal infarct, and one had a resolving abscess. Of six treated with antibiotics alone, one died of unrelated complications and five have demonstrated no pathological renal condition after three to six years.