Letter to the Editor

Secondary Psoas Abscess

Authors: Weekitt Kittisupamongkol, MD

Abstract

To the Editor:


Lin et al1 report an interesting case of a man with psoas abscess. They cited that 80% of secondary psoas abscess cases derived from the alimentary tract, with Crohn disease as the most common cause. I disagree. The incidence of Crohn disease is low in many groups, e.g. Asian, and Hispanic.2 An increase in the incidence of secondary psoas abscess from the spine is being recognized3 and in one case series, the gastrointestinal tract was found to be a less common source than the vertebra.4

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References

1.Lin CJ, Chen HH, Chen YC, et al. Catheter-related atrial thrombus resolved after catheter removal in a patient on hemodialysis. South Med J 2008;101:662–663.
 
2.Baumgart DC, Carding SR. Inflammatory bowel disease: cause and immunobiology. Lancet 2007;369:1627–1640.
 
3.Mückley T, Schütz T, Kirschner M, et al. Psoas abscess: the spine as a primary source of infection. Spine 2003;28:E106–E113.
 
4.van den Berge M, de Marie S, Kuipers T, et al. Psoas abscess: report of a series and review of the literature. Neth J Med 2005;63:413–416.