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.
D000328:Adult; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006119:Groin; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography