Background: Although intra-abdominal abscess is one of the major complications of abdominal
surgery, the literature documents only a few cases of recurrence after a long asymptomatic
period.
Methods: Case report and literature review.
Results: A 66-year-old woman developed a primary subphrenic abscess secondary to anastomotic
leakage after total gastrectomy. Percutaneous drainage succeeded in evacuating the
abscess cavity, and broad-spectrum antibiotics apparently eradicated the infection. However,
a recurrent subphrenic abscess appeared eight years later with no intervening signs or symptoms.
Conclusions: The unexpected outcome in this case may call into question the appropriate
follow-up period after treatment for subphrenic abscess. Our experience indicates that clinicians
should be aware of the possibility of rare delayed recurrence of intra-abdominal abscess.
