IMAGING PREDICTORS OF TECHNICAL SUCCESS AND COMPLICATIONS IN PERCUTANEOUS IMAGE-GUIDED DRAINAGE OF ABDOMINAL ABSCESSES

Introduction: Percutaneous image-guided drainage has become the standard minimally invasive approach for the management of abdominal abscesses, yet technical failure and procedure-related complications remain clinically relevant. Imaging plays a central role not only in guiding the intervention but also in anticipating outcomes based on abscess morphology, location, and surrounding anatomical relationships. Objective: The primary objective of this systematic review is to evaluate imaging-derived predictors of technical success and complications in percutaneous image-guided drainage of abdominal abscesses, with secondary objectives focusing on modality-specific findings, abscess characteristics, patient-related modifiers, complication profiles, and implications for procedural planning. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across major biomedical databases with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on recent clinical evidence assessing imaging features associated with outcomes of percutaneous abscess drainage, followed by structured data extraction and qualitative synthesis. Results and Discussion: A total of 20 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis, demonstrating consistent associations between abscess size, complexity, loculation, anatomical depth, and proximity to critical structures with both technical success and complication rates, while highlighting variability across imaging modalities and study designs. Conclusion: Imaging predictors provide actionable information that can optimize patient selection, procedural strategy, and risk stratification for percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses in routine clinical practice.