title: Sonography of Morel-Lavallee lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this series was to retrospectively characterize the sonographic appearance of posttraumatic Morel-Lavallée lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  After Institutional Review Board approval was obtained, a search of the radiology information system database with correlation to medical records identified 21 posttraumatic fluid collections of the hip and thigh in 15 patients. Sonographic images were retrospectively reviewed by 1 author to characterize the echogenicity, homogeneity, shape, margins, location, compressibility, and vascularity of the fluid collection. Results were correlated with the age of the fluid collection and aspiration results where possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All fluid collections (21/21) were located between the deep fat and fascia, with a shape that was fusiform in 12 (60%) of 20, flat in 5 (25%), and lobular in 3 (15%) (shape not determined in 1 case). Regarding echogenicity, 15 (71%) of the 21 collections were hypoechoic, and 6 (29%) were anechoic; 13 (62%) were heterogeneous, and 8 (38%) were homogeneous. The lobular fluid collections were all less than 2 weeks of age, and the flat fluid collections were all greater than 6 months of age. All homogeneous fluid collections were greater than 8 months of age. There was no relationship between the age of a fluid collection and its echogenicity. Conclusions. Morel-Lavallée lesions had a variable appearance, being more homogeneous and flat or fusiform in shape with a well-defined margin as the lesions aged. All Morel-Lavallée lesions were hypoechoic or anechoic, compressible, and located between the deep fat and overlying fascia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: Jon A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brandon
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalume-Brigido
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morag
authors.forename: Gandikota
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D025981:Hip Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D013848:Thigh / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult