Splenic abscess

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Venkata Sivakrishna Kumar Pulivarthi M.B.B.S [2]

Synonyms and keywords:Abscess of spleen

Overview

Splenic abscess is an uncommon and lifethreatening condition. Clinical presentation, etiological factors, natural history, treatment and prognosis depends on whether the abscess was solitary or multiple.[1] It is always fatal if left untreated. Most commonly associate with immunodeficient patients especially, hematological disorders such as leukemia, sickle cell disease etc.

Definition

Splenic abscess is defined as any infectious suppurative process involving identifiable macroscopic filling defects either in the parenchyma of the spleen or the subcapsular space.[2]

Historical Perspective

  • Since the times of Hippocrates, splenic abscess has been reported several times and he described the natural history and prognosis of splenic abscess.[3]
  • In the early days of 20th century, splenic abscess most commonly caused by typhoid and then followed by malaria.[4]
  • Ooi et al. described significant etiological differences such increase in the percentage of abscess cases due to anaerobics as compared to aerobics (7 vs 18-28%), fungi (1 vs 18-41%) as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (0.8 vs. 14%) in the second half of 20th century.[5]

Classification

Classification by Pathogenesis

Splenic abscess is classified traditionally based on the pathogenesis as follows:[1][6]

  • Hematogenous or Metastatic infection: Seen in endocarditis
  • Embolic phenomenon: splenic abscess developed as consequence of cellular embolism in hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease
  • Contagious infection: Splenic abscesses can develop through continuity of infection from primary sources which are anatomically close (e.g. subphrenic abscesses)
  • Splenic trauma: secondary infections may developed due to splenic trauma
  • Depressed immune defenses: chemotherapy-induced abscesses developed particularily in leukemias

Classification by Etiology

Classification of splenic abscesses based on the etiological factors is as follows:[5]

Pathophysiology

Splenic abscess can result from various sources such as:[7]

Pathogenic Mechanism Discription
Hematogenous Dissemination
  • Hematogenous Dissemination or arterial dissemination is the most common mode of infection that results in splenic abscess.[1]
  • It is a metastatic infection through hematologic seeding from distant infections such as infective endocarditis, purulent teeth-related infections and urinary tract infections
  • Most common organism involved is Staphylococcs aureus
  • Often results in multiple abscesses

Sources of pathogen[5]

Secondary infection of splenic infarction

Sources of emboli:[5]

Source of thrombus formation in splenic artery

Contiguous spread of bacteria
Trauma
  • secondary infections may developed due to splenic trauma during any intra-abdominal procedures.[5]

Iatrogenic causes of splenic truma

Immunodeficiency
  • It is major factor involved in the course of splenic abscess especially if the causative organism is fungi or any other atypical organism.

Common immunodeficient states associate with splenic absecess

Causes

Spleenic abscess is caused mostly by monomicrobial but some times it can be caused by polymicrobial agents. Bacteria is more common than other microbial agents such as fungi, protozoa which can cause splenic abscess in immunocompromised patients.

Common causes

Common causes of splenic abscess includes:[2]
Aerobes are the most predominant organisms causing splenic abscess in 50% of cases.[2][8]

Aerobes Anaerobes Fungal

Less common causes

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3

Differentiating Splenic abscess from Other Diseases

Splenic abscess should be differented from other causes of left upper quadrent pain:[9]

Difference between Solitary abscess and Multiple septic abscesses
Characteristic Solitary abscess Multiple septic abscesses
Presentation Common presentation is fever, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting with signs of left

upper abdominal quadrant tenderness, splenomegaly, left pleural effusion, and leukocytosis

Most commonly present with generalized sepsis because of an ineradicable septic focus remote from the spleen
Caueses
Pathological findings Gross findings:
  • Enlarged spleen with due to large solitary abscesses with thick wall around the abscess to prevent dissemination is seen

Microscopic findings:

Gross findings:
  • At the time of autopsy, spleen present as large and soft, and pus extruded organ from the cut surface.

Microscopic findings:

Complications
Treatment of choice Best initial treatment is percutaneous drainage. If recurrent or not responding to combination of anti microbial therapy and drainage, then most appropriate treatment is splenectomy. Splenectomy
Outcome Most of the patient died of sepsis even though splenic infection had been eliminated
Difference between Bacterial abscess and Fungal abscess of spleen
Characteristic Bacterial Cause Fungal Cause
Presentation Common presentation is fever, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Signs of sepsis is common bacterial cause. Similar presentation but signs of sepsis are rare
Risk factors Common risk factors for splenic abscess due to fungal infection:[2]
Common causes Most common etiological include:
Lab findings
Treatment Splenectomy is the most appropriate treatment of choice despite high complication rate.

Medical therapy

Surgery

  • No surgery is usually required as treatment with Amphotericin B is more efficacious than surgery[10]
  • During percutaneous drainage amphotericin B is administered directly into the abscess cavity[11]

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Spleen abscess often co-exists with several risk factors, but the major one is the patient’s immunodeficiency. Common risk factors of splenic abscess include:[9]

Screening

No specific screening test for splenic abscess.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Natural History

Splenic abscess is a rare cause of abdominal abscesss, but life-threatening. Because of it's rarity, splenic abscess usually diagnosed at the late stages or after the onset of complications.[1] Early diagnosis, prompt treatment can prevent complications.[1] Mortality rate is very high if left untreated.

Complications

Life threatening complications:

Common complications:

Less common complications:

Prognosis

Prognosis of splenic abscess depends on the time of diagnosis and treatment. Delay in the management can lead to splenic rupture followed by spilling into peritoneal cavity or an adjacent organ which can lead to septicemia and death in severe cases.

Association

Splenic abscess is commonly associate with:[9]

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Criteria

Splenic abscess commonly present with a triad of symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain along with palpable spleen on examination. Early diagnosis with imaging studies and prompt drainage is required to reduce morbidity and mortality. Presence of fever, left upper abdominal pain, leukocytosis and radiologic evidence shows pathology in the left chest X-ray especially in immunocompromised patients are the indications for high suspicion of splenic abscess.

History and Symptoms

Common symptoms of splenic abscess include:[2][5]

Other symptoms include:[1]

Physical Examination Findings

Appearance

Patient with splenic abscess appear ill appearing and diaphoretic

Vital signs

If patient present with sepsis:

Signs of sepsis indicate that splenic abscess is most likely due to bacterial cause than fungal source.[2]

Heart

  • New onset murmur may be present

Abdomen Palpation

Auscultation

Laboratory Tests

Blood Tests

Blood tests such leukocytosis are increased but not significant in the diagnosis of splenic abscess because these tests may not be appropriate in immunocompromised patients.

  • CBC with differential
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
  • Microbiological tests: In solitary abscesses blood culture is not sensitive in the initial stages when as in multiple abscesses it is helpful in prompt diagnosis and early treatment.[1]
  • Mycological tests

Imaging

As the clinical features of splenic absecess are non specific and vague such as abdominal pain, fever and vomiting, that makes diagnosis is challenging and relied on imaging modalities. Imaging studies such as ultrasound, computerized tomography made the diagnosis early and more accurate that reduces morbidity and mortality.[15]

Chest X- ray Ultrasound Computerized tomography Other diagnostic studies
Scintigraphic studies Arteriography

Advantages

Common x- ray findings includes:

Advantages

  • Emergency radiography with high sensitivity (75-100%)[6][16]
  • Non invasive
  • Cost effective
  • Determine the size of the spleen, size of the abscess, its location and echogenicity

Computerised tomography with contrast is both diagnostic and therapeutic test of choice for splenic abscess.[17][18]
Advantages

  • High sensitivity (88-100%)
  • Can differentiate unolocular and multilocular abscesses
  • Can identify the contents of abscess
  • Can determine the density index of abscess.
  • Can differentiate splenic abscess from splenic cysts and splenic hematomas
  • More precise and accurate than ultrasonography, in identifying the location of abscess in relation to other internal organs during per-cutaneous drainage.
  • It is superior to all other diagnostic tests for splenic abscess.

Scintigraphic studies include technetium-99m liver and spleen scans, gallium scans, and indium scans. Splenic scan is diagnostic modality to identify abscesses which relies upon splenic uptake of the radionuclide 99m technetium which shows abscess as a negative or filling defect.

Advantages

  • High specificity: If patient showing high suspicion of splenic abscess and scan supports the diagnosis, then splenectomy can be performed.

Disadvantages:

  • Scan can not identifie or visualize incurable small abscesses.[1]
  • Less sensitive: If the scan shows negative or equivocal results for splenci abscess but clinical suspicion remains, an arteriogram should be ordered.

Arteriography is the technique that involves injection of contrast material through a catheter passed retrograde into the splenic artery followed by rapid exposure of sequential x-ray films which shows abscesses as filling defects in the spleen.

Advantages:

More reliable and precise than splenic scan in diagnosing small abscesses.

Disadvantages:

  • Invasive technique

Diagnostic Evaluation of Splenic abscess

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Suspicion of splenic abscess
(Patients with immunodeficiency disorders, fever, changes in chest X-ray, abdominal pain)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Blood culture
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Patient with immunodeficiency disorders?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If immunodeficent patient
Initiate wide spectrum antibiotics + antifungal medication
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If immunocompetent patient
Initiate wide spectrum antibiotics
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ultrasound of abdominal cavity, CT scan with contrast
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Presence of indications for minimally invasive procedures
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Absence of indications for minimally invasive procedures
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aspiration or abscess drainage under US or CT guidance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abscess cavity content culture, modification of antibiotic therapy according to culture results; Prolonged antibiotic therapy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If ineffective drainage or recurrent abscess
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spleenectomy or Open abscess drainage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abscess cavity content culture, modification of antibiotic therapy according to culture results; Prolonged antibiotic therapy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Treatment of splenic abscess depends on etiology. In bacterial abscesses, splenectomy combined with post-operative antibiotic therapy is the most appropriate treatment of choice with least mortality rate when compared to percutaneous drainage or antimicrobial therapy.[19]

Percutaneous Drainage Splenectomy

Percutaneous drainage is the initial tretament of choice for splenic abscess, even though splenectomy is the definitive treatment because of increased risk of infections in splenectomised patient.[7][20] It is genereally done under the guidance of imaging studies such as ultrasound or computerised tomography and under the guidence of imaging efficy of percuteneous drainage is equivalent to splenectomy.[21][22]

  • First line of treatment for splenic abscess
  • Safe and effective than surgery in both unilocular and bilocular abscesses, especially in peripherally located abscesses.
  • Preferred in critically ill patient and patients unfit for general anesthesia

Advantages

  • Preserves spleen. So, it become the the treatment of choice in children to prevent post-splenectomy septicemia[23]
  • No abdominal spillage of abscess contents
  • Less expensive, high acceptance rate and less operative risk

Complications

  • Splenic haemorrhage
  • Injury to other abdominal organs
  • Septicemia
  • Empyema
  • Pneumothorax
  • Fistula formation
  • Deep vein thrombosis

Contraindications or limitations

  • Multiple or septated abscesses[24][6][8]
  • Anatomically inaccessible for drainage such as upper pole or hilar of the spleen,
  • Uncontrolled coagulopathies
  • Ascites
  • Simultaneous surgical procedure required of other indications such as subphrenic abscess
  • Abscess perforation or bleeding
  • Refractoriness to abscess-content drainage
  • Secondary infected spleen hematoma

Splenectomy is the most effective and definitive treatment of choice for splenic abscess. splenectomy can be performed either from left subcostal incision or from midline epigastric entry.

Advantages

  • Definitive treatment for splenic abscess
  • Treatment of choice if more than 2 abscesses are present
  • Patients with failed percutaneous drainage
  • Patient with recurrent abscesses

Disadvantages

  • Splenecetomisesd patients are more prone to infections especially catalase positive bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus.
  • Mortality rate varies between 0-20% [18]
  • Extended duration operation time, larger volume of intra-operative blood loss
  • Longer duration of hospital stay than percutaneous drainage procedure

Complications

  • Lung infection
  • Wound infection
  • Septicemia
  • Paralytic ileus
  • Deep vein thrombosis

Prevention

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention for splenic abscess can prevent in specific cases especially patients who are at high risk such as immunocompromised patients (e.g. recipients of renal transplants or patients on immunosuppressive drugs for other reasons).

  • In transplant patients best way to prevent splenic abscess is by splenectomy, where as in patients with other immunocompromised states it can be achieved by proper care, early detection and aggressive treatment of minor infections.[1]
  • Avoid intravenous drug abuse

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Gadacz T, Way LW, Dunphy JE (1974). "Changing clinical spectrum of splenic abscess". Am J Surg. 128 (2): 182–7. PMID 4550054.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Nelken N, Ignatius J, Skinner M, Christensen N (1987). "Changing clinical spectrum of splenic abscess. A multicenter study and review of the literature". Am J Surg. 154 (1): 27–34. PMID 3300398.
  3. Billings AE (1928). "ABSCESS OF THE SPLEEN". Ann Surg. 88 (3): 416–28. PMC 1398901. PMID 17865957.
  4. Elting AW (1915). "ABSCESS OF THE SPLEEN". Ann Surg. 62 (2): 182–92. PMC 1406707. PMID 17863403.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Ooi LL, Leong SS (1997). "Splenic abscesses from 1987 to 1995". Am J Surg. 174 (1): 87–93. PMID 9240961.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Phillips GS, Radosevich MD, Lipsett PA (1997). "Splenic abscess: another look at an old disease". Arch Surg. 132 (12): 1331–5, discussion 1335-6. PMID 9403539.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Zerem E, Bergsland J (2006). "Ultrasound guided percutaneous treatment for splenic abscesses: the significance in treatment of critically ill patients". World J Gastroenterol. 12 (45): 7341–5. PMC 4087495. PMID 17143953.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Ho HS, Wisner DH (1993). "Splenic abscess in the intensive care unit". Arch Surg. 128 (8): 842–6, discussion 846-8. PMID 8343056.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Sreekar H, Saraf V, Pangi AC, Sreeharsha H, Reddy R, Kamat G (2011). "A retrospective study of 75 cases of splenic abscess". Indian J Surg. 73 (6): 398–402. doi:10.1007/s12262-011-0370-y. PMC 3236272. PMID 23204694.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Helton WS, Carrico CJ, Zaveruha PA, Schaller R (1986). "Diagnosis and treatment of splenic fungal abscesses in the immune-suppressed patient". Arch Surg. 121 (5): 580–6. PMID 3518659.
  11. Johnson JD, Raff MJ (1984). "Fungal splenic abscess". Arch Intern Med. 144 (10): 1987–93. PMID 6385895.
  12. Simson JN (1980). "Solitary abscess of the spleen". Br J Surg. 67 (2): 106–10. PMID 7362937.
  13. Balasubramanian SP, Mojjada PR, Bose SM (2002). "Ruptured staphylococcal splenic abscess resulting in peritonitis: report of a case". Surg Today. 32 (6): 566–7. doi:10.1007/s005950200100. PMID 12107789.
  14. Nikolaidis N, Giouleme O, Gkisakis D, Grammatikos N (2005). "Posttraumatic splenic abscess with gastrosplenic fistula". Gastrointest Endosc. 61 (6): 771–2. PMID 15855993.
  15. Thanos L, Dailiana T, Papaioannou G, Nikita A, Koutrouvelis H, Kelekis DA (2002). "Percutaneous CT-guided drainage of splenic abscess". AJR Am J Roentgenol. 179 (3): 629–32. doi:10.2214/ajr.179.3.1790629. PMID 12185032.
  16. Paris S, Weiss SM, Ayers WH, Clarke LE (1994). "Splenic abscess". Am Surg. 60 (5): 358–61. PMID 8161087.
  17. Faught WE, Gilbertson JJ, Nelson EW (1989). "Splenic abscess: presentation, treatment options, and results". Am J Surg. 158 (6): 612–4. PMID 2589597.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Green BT (2001). "Splenic abscess: report of six cases and review of the literature". Am Surg. 67 (1): 80–5. PMID 11206904.
  19. Chang KC, Chuah SK, Changchien CS, Tsai TL, Lu SN, Chiu YC; et al. (2006). "Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of splenic abscess: a review of 67 cases in a single medical center of Taiwan". World J Gastroenterol. 12 (3): 460–4. PMC 4066069. PMID 16489650.
  20. Choudhury S R, Rajiv C, Pitamber S, Akshay S, Dharmendra S (2006). "Management of splenic abscess in children by percutaneous drainage". J Pediatr Surg. 41 (1): e53–6. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2005.10.085. PMID 16410091.
  21. Teich S, Oliver GC, Canter JW (1986). "The early diagnosis of splenic abscess". Am Surg. 52 (6): 303–7. PMID 3521422.
  22. Hadas-Halpren I, Hiller N, Dolberg M (1992). "Percutaneous drainage of splenic abscesses: an effective and safe procedure". Br J Radiol. 65 (779): 968–70. doi:10.1259/0007-1285-65-779-968. PMID 1450832.
  23. Kang M, Saxena AK, Gulati M, Suri S (2004). "Ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage of splenic abscess". Pediatr Radiol. 34 (3): 271–3. doi:10.1007/s00247-003-1068-5. PMID 14530888.
  24. Gerzof SG, Johnson WC, Robbins AH, Nabseth DC (1985). "Expanded criteria for percutaneous abscess drainage". Arch Surg. 120 (2): 227–32. PMID 3977590.

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