Sonography of thigh abscess: detection, diagnosis, and drainage

Sonographic characteristics and percutaneous catheter drainage of thigh abscesses in 18 patients are described. Most of these patients had underlying diseases including osteomyelitis, trauma, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, lymphoma, sepsis, bleeding dyscrasia, and autoimmune disease. Previous procedures on these thigh collections included seven operations and 12 nondiagnostic ward aspirations. All collections were shown by sonography to be either anterior or anterolateral. Two cases referred for drainage were posteromedial; sonography showed these to be mycotic pseudoaneurysms. The abscesses were either anechoic or hypoechoic, and occasionally had debris and septations. Abscesses associated with underlying osteomyelitis abutted the femur; those related to other causes generally were more superficial within muscle or fascial layers. Sonographically guided catheter drainage successfully cured all patients, even those in whom ward aspiration or formal surgery had been unsuccessful. Sonography is a simple and inexpensive method of imaging and guiding the drainage of thigh abscesses. Percutaneous catheter drainage is the treatment of choice in cases in which simple emergency room or ward incision and drainage are inadequate.