Role of ultrasonography, gallium scanning, and computed tomography in the diagnosis of intraabdominal abscess.

Ultrasonography is reasonable in cost and allows confirmatory needle aspiration. It is especially valuable when the clinical impression suggests a particular area where the abscess is probably located. Gallium scanning is useful to detect the abscess when examination suggests a septic process without clinical localization. Several false-positive findings were seen in postsplenectomy patients. Computed tomography should be reserved for patients in whom localization is by other means difficult. By correlating the results of these techniques with clinical findings, only one unnecessary operation resulted from false-positive studies, and no surgery was delayed due to improper reliance on negative findings.