Inflammatory lesions of the groin: ultrasonic evaluation.

Sonograms of 72 patients with pain and swelling in the groin due to intravenous drug abuse were reviewed, together with 2 cases which were due to trauma. There were 27 abscesses, 36 cases of cellulitis or thrombophlebitis, 7 cases of lymphadenopathy, 3 hematomas, and 1 pseudoaneurysm. Most abscesses presented as distinct masses, while cellulitis was seen most often as soft-tissue swelling. However, 5 abscesses were manifested sonographically as diffuse soft-tissue swelling without a distinct mass, while 8 cases of cellulitis appeared as a mass. In most cases, ultrasound was able to distinguish diseases requiring surgery or percutaneous drainage from those that should respond to medical therapy. In some cases, percutaneous aspiration and/or follow-up sonograms after antibiotic therapy will be necessary for a specific diagnosis.

Sonographic findings in perforation of the gallbladder.

The sonographic findings in 13 patients with proven gallbladder perforation are described. Two patients were scanned immediately before and after gallbladder perforation. The sonographic findings before gallbladder perforation were gallbladder distension (one case) and gallbladder wall edema (one case). Pericholecystic collections develop after gallbladder perforation. These collections have a varied sonographic appearance ranging from anechoic to complex collections, and their internal characteristics seem to depend on the duration of the pericholecystic process. The residual gallbladder lumen or calculi can be identified within or peripheral to the pericholecystic process. The most acceptable mechanism for perforation of the gallbladder is: (1) impaction of a calculus in the cystic duct; (2) gallbladder distension due to secretion into its lumen by mucous glands located in the walls of the gallbladder; (3) vascular impairment of the gallbladder due to distension of the viscus; and (4) ischemia, necrosis, and perforation of the gallbladder wall. Gallbladder perforation is a significant complication of acute cholecystitis associated with morbidity and mortality. Detection of this complication of acute cholecystitis by clinical means is difficult since the patient's symptoms are similar to those of uncomplicated acute cholecystitis. The inherent resolution of sonography offers an excellent display of the gallbladder and surrounding tissues allowing detection of pericholecystic collection secondary to gallbladder perforation.

Disease in the femoral triangle: sonographic appearance.

Twenty-nine patients had sonographic evaluation of the femoral triangle because of pain or swelling. The entities diagnosed by sonography were abscesses (seven), cellulitis (three), hematoma (five), nodal enlargement (four), aneurysm of the femoral artery (three), and thrombophlebitis of the femoral vein (seven). Both abscesses and hematomas were poorly defined primarily anechoic masses. Soft-tissue swelling but no distinct masses were present in cellulitis, and all cases of adenopathy were well defined anechoic masses. Aneurysms were also primarily well defined, pulsatile, anechoic masses except mycotic aneurysm, which may present as a primarily solid mass. The sonographic features of thrombophlebitis which has received scant attention in the sonographic literature are stressed. Findings suggest a dilated anechoic vein is characteristic of this entity. Although the sonographic findings or clinical data of many of these entities may be nonspecific, when used in combination, the correct diagnosis can usually be obtained.