Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is a rare complication of pelvic inflammatory disease(PID) named after the two physicians, Fitz-Hugh and Curtis who first reported this condition in 1934 and 1930 respectively.

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is usually caused by gonorrhoea(acute gonococcal perihepatitis) or chlamydiaorganisms, this occurs when these bacteria travel up the peritoneumto the upper abdomen and cause inflammationthere.

The signs are an acute onset, upper right-quadrant abdominal painand tenderness aggravated by breathing, coughing or movement, and referred to the right shoulder following an episode of PID. Laparoscopymay reveal "violin string" adhesions.

Treatment involves diagnosing and treating the underlying cause correctly. The adhesions can be cut laparoscopically.

References

• Curtis AH. A cause of adhesion in the right upper quadrant. J Am Med Assoc 1930;94:1221-122.
• Fitz-Hugh Jr T. Acute gonococcic peritonitis of the right upper quadrant in women. J Am Med Assoc 1934;102:2094-2096.

External link

• On the eponymnl:Syndroom van Fitz-Hugh-Curtis

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitz-Hugh-Curtis+syndrome Wikipedia article Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome.