Clinics in Diagnostic Imaging (71)

M Muttarak, WCG Peh
Correspondence: Prof Wilfred C G Peh, gdrpcg@sgh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
A 26-year-old woman presented with a progressively painful lump at her left groin and upper thigh for five months. She also had intermittent back pain for three years. Radiographs and CT showed osteolytic destruction of the several contiguous thoracolumbar vertebrae with a large left iliopsoas abscess that extended to involve the left gluteus maximus and adductor magnus muscles. She responded well to a course of antibiotics. The role of imaging and imaging features of iliopsoas abscesses are discussed, together with a classification of an approach to the diagnosis of iliopsoas lesions. CT is currently the single most useful technique for visualising the anatomy of and disease processes involving the iliopsoas compartment.

Keywords: Abscess, computed tomography (CT), iliopsoas muscle, muscle infection, psoas disease
Singapore Med J 2002; 43(3): 161-166