Abscess originating from osteomyelitis as a cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and acute urinary retention.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a common complaint in the general population with great impact on the quality of life. Besides the classical pathologies, there are less common causes that must be considered in the treatment approach for patients with LUTS. We present the case of a 30-year-old patient with multiple emergency department episodes with dysuria, urinary frequency, suprapubic pain and an episode of acute urinary retention. The blood and urine tests only revealed increased systemic inflammatory parameters. The ultrasound examination showed thickening of the bladder wall, and the CT scan revealed a retropubic abscess originating from a pubic symphysis osteomyelitis. A percutaneous drainage was performed and, after empirical antibiotic therapy, there was complete resolution of the clinical picture. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.