Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Splenic abscess

A rare complication of Crohn's colitis

  • Case report
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

This report describes a patient with Crohn's disease of the colon who presented with a rare extraintestinal complication: splenic abscess. Additional features of this case were the association of multiple extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease, including iritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and pericholangitis, and polymicrobial bacteremia. This report emphasizes the cryptic nature of splenic abscess presentation, the more frequent association of extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease with intraabdominal complications, and the association of polymicrobial anaerobic bacteremia with obstructive gastrointestinal complications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gadacz T, Way LW, Dunphy JR: Changing clinical spectrum of splenic abscess. Am J Surg 128:182–187, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chulay JD, Lankerani MR: Splenic Abscess: Report of 10 cases and review of the literature. Am J Med 61:513–522, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chun CH, Raff MJ, Contreras L, Varghese R, Waterman N, Daffner R, Melo JC: Splenic abscess. Medicine 59:50–65, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  4. Linos DA, Nagorney DM, McIlrath DC: Splenic abscess—the importance of early diagnosis. Mayo Clin Proc 58:261–264, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  5. McSherry CK, Dineen P: The significance of splenic abscess. Am J Surg 103:618–623, 1962

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pickleman JR, Paloyan E, Block GE: The surgical significance of splenic abscess. Surgery 68:287–293, 1970

    Google Scholar 

  7. Nichols TW Jr, Wright FM, Pyeatte JC, O'Connell JP: Spontaneous rupture of the spleen. An unusual complication of Crohn's disease. Am J Gastroenterol 75:226–228, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  8. Huizenga KA: Symptoms, signs and pathophysiology of bowel complication of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.In Inflammatory Bowel Diseas, 2nd edition. JB Kirsner, RG Shorter (eds). Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1980, pp 203–216

    Google Scholar 

  9. Greenstein AJ, Sachar DB, Greenstein RJ, Janowitz HD, Aufses AH Jr: Intraabdominal abscess in Crohn's (ileo) colitis. Am J Surg 143:727–730, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rankin GB, Watts HO, Melnyk CS, Kelley ML Jr: National Cooperative Crohn's Disease Study: Extraintestinal manifestations and perianal complications. Gastroenterology 77:914–920, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hochstein HD, Kirkham WR, Young VM: Recovery of more than one organism in septicemias. N Engl J Med 273:468–474, 1965

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hermans PE, Washington JA: Polymicrobial bacteremia. Ann Intern Med 73:387–392, 1970

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kiani D, Quinn EL, Bruch KH, Madhavan T, Saravola LD, Neblett TR: The increasing importance of polymicrobial bacteremia. JAMA 242:1044–1047, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  14. Vermillion SE, Gregg JA, Baggenstoss AH, Bartholomew LG: Jaundice associated with bacteremia. Arch Int Med 124:611–618, 1969

    Google Scholar 

  15. Miller DJ, Keeton GR, Webber BL, Saunders SJ: Jaundice in severe bacterial infection. Gastroenterology 71:94–97, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  16. Zimmerman HJ, Fang M, Utili R, Seeff LB, Hoofnagle J: Jaundice due to bacterial infection. Gastroenterology 77:362–374, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gourley GR, Chesney PJ, Davis JP, O'Dell GB: Acute cholestasis in patients with toxic-shock syndrome. Gastroenterology 81:928–931, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  18. Rose HD, Lentino JR, Mavrelis PG, Rytel MW: Jaundice associated with nonhepaticStaphylococcus aureus injection. Does teichoic acid have a role in pathogenesis? Dig Dis Sci 27:1046–1050, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  19. Eade MN, Cooke WT, Brooke BN, Thompson H: Liver disease in Crohn's colitis. A study of 21 consecutive patients having colectomy. Ann Int Med 74:518–528, 1971

    Google Scholar 

  20. Perrett AD, Higgins G, Johnston HH, Massarella GR, Truelove SC, Wright R: The liver in Crohn's disease. Q J Med 40:187–209, 1971

    Google Scholar 

  21. Dew MJ, Thompson H, Allan RN: The spectrum of hepatic dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease. Q J Med 48:113–135, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kern F: Hepatobiliary disorders in inflammatory bowel diseaseIn Progress in Liver Disease. H Popper, F Schaffner (eds). New York, Grune & Stratton, 1976, pp 575–589

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lee ECG: Aim of surgical treatment of Crohn's disease. Gut 25:217–222, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  24. Meyers S, Walfish JS, Sachar DB, Greenstein AJ, Hill AG, Janowitz HD: Quality of life after surgery for Crohn's disease: A psychosocial survey. Gastroenterology 78:1–6, 1980

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, Washington

    D. G. Wechter MD &  R. A. Willson MD

Authors
  1. D. G. Wechter MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. A. Willson MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wechter, D.G., Willson, R.A. Splenic abscess. Digest Dis Sci 30, 802–806 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01320492

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01320492

Keywords

Search

Navigation