Abscess is collection of pus and localization of pus with encapsulation in tissue and contain white blood cells mainly neutrophils. Abscess can occur in any body part with solid tissue mass. However the common sites of pus include skin (most common site of abscess is skin and collection of pus or abscess in skin is known by various names such as boils, furuncles, carbuncles etc.), gums (periodontal abscess), lungs, brain, muscles, tonsils, kidneys, liver etc.
Various types of abscesses seen are:
- Abscess in teeth and gums (such as periodontal abscess, gingival abscess, pulp abscess)
- Abscess in skin and mucous membrane (such as boils, furuncles, carbuncles, Bartholin’s abscess, follicular abscess, para-pharyngeal abscess, sub-epidermal abscess)
- Liver abscess (such as amebic liver abscess)
- Abscess in lung (such as apical abscess, alveolar abscess, lateral alveolar abscess, gummatous abscess, miliary abscess)
- Bone abscess, mastoid abscess, palatal abscess, periarticular abscess
- Abscess in kidney and urinary system (such as renal abscess, periurethral abscess, periureteral abscess, paranephric abscess, perinephric abscess)
- Abscess in muscles (such as sterile injection abscess, ischiorectal abscess, psoas abscess, worm abscess)
- Abscesses in various glands such as tonsilar abscess, peritonsillar abscess, parotid abscess, periappendiceal abscess, premammary abscess, tubo-ovarian abscess, pancreatic abscess
- Abscess in and around the eyes such as orbital abscess, retro-orbital abscess, stye or chalazion or abscess of follicle of eyelashes
Other abscess include Bezold abscess, Brodie abscess, bursal abscess, cold abscess, crypt abscess, acute abscess, chronic abscess, Douglas abscess, dry abscess, fecal abscess, Dubois abscess, hematogenous abscess, hot abscess, metastatic abscess, pelvic abscess, subphrenic abscess, tropical abscess etc.