Real-time vs. static scanning in the diagnosis of abdominal and pelvic abscesses

The authors prospectively compared real-time and static scanning in 39 patients (44 examinations) suspected clinically of having abdominal or pelvic abscesses. In every case, real-time and static scanning agreed as to the presence or absence of an abscess. In 17 of 19 instances in which abscesses were diagnosed on the basis of ultrasonographic examinations the diagnoses were verified by surgery. Twenty-four of 25 negative ultrasonographic results were confirmed by clinical follow-up. The use of portable real-time ultrasonography to examine seriously ill patients who are unable to be transported to the ultrasound laboratory does not diminish the diagnostic accuracy for suspected abdominal or pelvic abscesses.