What is a potential sign when a patient has a tubo-ovarian abscess?

A history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a potential sign when a patient has a tubo-ovarian abscess because PID is one of the primary risk factors that can lead to the development of such abscesses. PID often results from sexually transmitted infections and causes inflammation and infection in the female reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

When PID progresses, it can cause the formation of abscesses in the pelvic region. A tubo-ovarian abscess specifically occurs when an infection extends from the tubes to the ovaries and surrounding tissues, leading to the accumulation of pus. Therefore, a patient’s previous history of PID can significantly increase the likelihood of them developing a tubo-ovarian abscess, making it a critical piece of information for diagnosis and treatment.

Other options represent conditions or symptoms that typically do not connect with tubo-ovarian abscesses and hence are less relevant in this context. For instance, localized swelling in the breast, constipation and urinary retention, or skin rashes and itching are not indicative of the underlying infectious processes leading to a tubo-ovarian abscess.