[Psoas abscess as the inital manifestation of crohn's disease, report of 30 cases]

Psoas abcess complicating Crohn's disease is a rare condition. Diagnosis remains difficult, especially when it is the first sign of Crohn's disease. We report here 3 patients presenting with psoas abcess as the initial manifestation of the disease, among 118 patients with Crohn's disease seen between 1990 and 2006. Symptoms and signs were fever, lower abdominal quadrant pain or tenderness and psoitis. Diagnosis was confirmed in all cases by computed axial tomography. In 2 cases, psoas abcess secondary to a periappendicular abcess or f colonic neoplasm were suspected, and the etiology was made correctly only after operation. Effective therapy included antibiotics, drainage and bowel resection