Ultrasound diagnosis of pelvic and wound abscess after an appendectomy.

Intra-abdominal abscess formation is a common complication of ruptured and gangrenous appendicitis. The signs and symptoms associated with abscess formation are generally nonspecific and may be seen without a collection, which is amenable to surgical drainage. Because such patients are quite fragile, it is essential to use a diagnostic test which is noninvasive and highly accurate prior to further operation. B-scan ultrasound fulfills these requirements and is particularly valuable in assessing the recurrence of abscesses and in detecting wound abscesses.