The role of ultrasound scanning.

Abdominal abscess, if left untreated, has a high mortality rate. Inadequate means of diagnosis and localization was responsible for this high mortality. Ultrasound now provides a simple non-invasive procedure permitting diagnosis with a high degree of sensitivity, although specificity is less commonly achieved. Abscesses do not have absolutely specific features, but given the appropriate clinical context and fine needle aspiration a diagnosis can be made in virtually 100% of cases, i.e. if the lesions can be identified and not obscured by bowel gas and examinations are not rendered difficult by surgical wounds and dressings. Diagnostic aspiration and therapeutic drainage are readily carried out using ultrasound guidance. Ultrasound is also of value in following the progress of lesions.