Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome

Abstract

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is characterized by perihepatic inflammation appearing with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), mostly in women of childbearing age. Acute pain and tenderness in the right upper abdomen is the most common symptom that makes women visit the emergency rooms. It can also emerge with fever, nausea, vomiting, and, in fewer cases, pain in the left upper abdomen. It seems that the pathogens that are mostly responsible for this situation is Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Because of its characteristics, differential diagnosis for this syndrome is a constant, as it mimics many known diseases, such as cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and pulmonary embolism. The development of CT scanning provided diagnosticians with a very useful tool in the process of recognizing and analyzing the syndrome. Nevertheless, the only secure diagnostic method is the laparoscopic evaluation of the abdomen and the spotting of the unique "violin-string" adhesions between the liver and the abdominal wall or the diaphragm. Though it is a difficult diagnosis, the syndrome and, therefore, the PID that caused its outburst are usually easily treated with courses of antibiotics, as monotherapy or combined, with satisfactory results. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.