[Echographic evaluation of abscess pathology in superficial soft tissue. Personal experience]

Sonography is currently considered a very useful technique for the study of inflammatory-abscess conditions in superficial soft tissues. The authors report their experience with US in the study of 22 patients. In 15 of them a comparison was made with X-ray findings, in 4 with fistulographic and in 2 with CT results. US allows the abscesses to be evaluated in both their morphological structure and anatomical topography. US has proven especially useful in correctly evaluating both complete and incomplete fistulas, as well as in revealing foreign bodies. The US pattern of an abscess often confirms clinical diagnosis for it supplies further and more accurate information. Moreover, US sometimes allows an abscess to be demonstrated even when the latter was missed at clinics. However, the differential diagnosis with malignant neoplasm is difficult and sometimes a decision can be made only by means of other diagnostic imaging modalities.