Splenic abscess on ultrasonography.

The characteristic sonographic features in 32 splenic abscesses (25 of which were retrieved from the world literature) were splenomegaly, associated with an-or hypoechoic masses of different sizes and shapes, demarcated by irregular walls, containing echogenic foci of variable intensity and demonstrating little or no sonic through-transmission. Although these splenic features are not pathognomonic for abscesses, they can be correlated with other incidental abdominal sonographic findings and the presenting clinical symptoms, can direct percutaneous needle punctures and can enable a prompt diagnosis. Immediate surgery is usually curative, and is necessary to improve the high mortality rate in untreated cases.