OBJECTIVE: To present 3 cases of primary abscess of the psoas muscle. The clinical features, diagnostic tests, treatment and outcome are discussed. METHODS/ RESULTS: Three patients that presented with fever and pain referred to the renal and/or iliac fossa are described. Physical examination showed psoas involvement in only one patient. Among the complementary tests performed, ultrasound demonstrated the abscess in one of the cases; the definitive diagnosis was made by contrast-enhanced CT. One of the cases was treated only with antibiotics while the other two cases were treated with CT-guided percutaneous drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Psoas abscess is an uncommon pathology whose presenting features are usually unspecific. CT with contrast enhancement is considered to be the technique of choice for the diagnosis and to corroborate the resolution of the condition. Recently, the use of CT or US-guided percutaneous drainage has replaced surgery as the initial therapeutic approach for this condition.
OBJECTIVE: To present 3 cases of primary abscess of the psoas muscle. The clinical features, diagnostic tests, treatment and outcome are discussed. METHODS/ RESULTS: Three patients that presented with fever and pain referred to the renal and/or iliac fossa are described. Physical examination showed psoas involvement in only one patient. Among the complementary tests performed, ultrasound demonstrated the abscess in one of the cases; the definitive diagnosis was made by contrast-enhanced CT. One of the cases was treated only with antibiotics while the other two cases were treated with CT-guided percutaneous drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Psoas abscess is an uncommon pathology whose presenting features are usually unspecific. CT with contrast enhancement is considered to be the technique of choice for the diagnosis and to corroborate the resolution of the condition. Recently, the use of CT or US-guided percutaneous drainage has replaced surgery as the initial therapeutic approach for this condition.