Ultrasound-guided surgical drainage of face and neck abscesses

An ultrasound-guided surgical drainage technique in which grey-scale and colour Doppler ultrasonography were combined is described. The technique was performed for eight deep subcutaneous abscesses subsequent to odontogenic infection, and provided easy detection and accurate, reliable penetration of abscesses that were difficult to locate by physical examination. Colour Doppler ultrasonography is particularly useful for differentiating blood vessels from the static space of abscesses.