Imaging features of soft-tissue infections

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology

Background:

• Skin and soft tissue infections are prevalent, ranging from superficial to deep tissue involvement.
• Clinical diagnosis alone often lacks specificity, necessitating advanced imaging modalities.
• Infections can spread contiguously or via hematogenous routes, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence-based imaging features of common soft tissue infections.
• To highlight the role of cross-sectional imaging (US, CT, MRI) in diagnosis and management.
• To emphasize the importance of correlating imaging findings with clinical presentation.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on soft tissue infection imaging.
• Analysis of diagnostic capabilities and limitations of ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Synthesis of imaging characteristics for various soft tissue infections and their mimics.

Main Results:

• Imaging is essential for confirming diagnosis, delineating infection extent, and guiding treatment of soft tissue infections.
• Significant overlap exists in imaging features across different infection types, underscoring the need for clinical correlation.
• Each imaging modality (US, CT, MRI) offers unique advantages and disadvantages for evaluating soft tissue infections.

Conclusions:

• Radiologists must understand the specific imaging features of soft tissue infections and their mimics.
• Effective management hinges on the judicious selection of imaging techniques and integration with clinical data.
• This review provides a contemporary overview of imaging strategies for soft tissue infections.