The space between: a supralevator abscess caused by perforated diverticulitis

Supralevator abscesses are the rarest manifestation of anorectal suppurative disease. We report a supralevator abscess in a 60-year-old male whose earliest presentation included poorly localized abdominal and pelvic pain, tenesmus, urinary retention and weight loss, initially treated as diverticular disease based upon imaging and presentation. Progressive symptoms led to the discovery of a pelvic abscess with subsequent percutaneous drainage, later followed by emergent laparotomy, where a single perforated diverticulum was revealed to be the source fistulization. He underwent a Hartmann procedure with concomitant drainage of supralevator and ischiorectal collections. Perirectal pain with neurological involvement is part of a constellation of signs and symptoms that should invoke a high index of clinical suspicion for supralevator abscess formation. Percutaneous attempts at drainage are often inadequate; definitive surgical therapy is the best approach to prevent recurrence and associated morbidity.