diagnosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
The diagnosis of a subphrenic abscess is by:
- ultrasound or abdominal CT: localises collections of pus
- white cell count: often a leucocytosis of around 20,000
- chest X-ray:
- high diaphragm on the affected side
- may be gas and fluid beneath the diaphragm
- if there is a pleural effusion then this is seen on chest X-ray