Computed tomography characteristics of hepatic and splenic abscesses associated with melioidosis: A 7-year study

Purpose: This study aimed to characterise the CT findings associated with hepatic and splenic melioid abscesses. Methods: Patients with CT evidence of hepatic and/or splenic abscesses were retrospectively evaluated for clinical evidence of melioidosis over a 7-year period. After blinded review of the CT characteristics of intra-abdominal abscesses (IAA), we conducted a stratified analysis of patients with and without melioid IAA. Results: Among 49 patients with CT evidence of hepatic and/or splenic IAA, the mean age was 50.2 years, 22 (44.9%) were women and eight (16.3%) had laboratory confirmation of melioidosis. For the 113 IAA, 33 were melioid abscesses (15 liver and 18 spleen) and 80 were non-melioid abscesses (69 liver and 11 spleen). Splenic IAA were more common in the melioid group (P = 0.001) and smaller in diameter than the hepatic IAA (P < 0.001). Melioid IAA were smaller than non-melioid IAA (P < 0.001) and the CT necklace sign was the strongest predictor for melioid IAA (odds ratio = 24.6, P = 0.006) with 100% specificity. Other significant predictors for melioidosis were concurrent hepatic and splenic involvement (P = 0.009), multiple abscesses (P = 0.015) and residence in an endemic area (P = 0.047). By multivariate analysis, concurrent hepatic and splenic involvement was the sole predictor of melioidosis (adjusted odds ratio = 11.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.6-77.5, P = 0.014). Conclusion: The CT necklace sign, along with concurrent hepatic and splenic IAA, were highly suggestive of melioidosis in persons from Central Thailand.