Preoperative diagnosis of splenic abscess by ultrasonography and radionuclide scanning.

Abscess of the spleen is uncommon and potentially lethal, but until recently it was rarely diagnosed except by exploratory celiotomy or at autopsy. Now, with the advent of radionuclide scanning, ultrasonography, and selective angiography, earlier diagnosis is possible in most cases. We report a case of traumatic abscess of the spleen, which was diagnosed preoperatively and ultrasonography and scanning with gallium citrate Ga 67 and technetium Tc 99m without the need for the more invasive technic of angiography.