The management of splenic abscess.

We report three patients with splenic abscess whom we attempted to treat without recourse to open surgery. Medical treatment alone was successful in one case, and medical treatment combined with percutaneous drainage was successful in the second. Splenectomy was required in the third case after failure of medical treatment and complications of percutaneous drainage. The difficulties in diagnosing splenic abscess are reviewed and the indications for splenectomy or percutaneous drainage, as opposed to medical treatment are considered.