European Journal of Ultrasound 8 (1998) 101 – 106 Clinical paper The role of power Doppler sonography in the evaluation of superficial soft tissue abscesses Halil Arslan a, *, M. Emin Sakarya a , Mehmet Bozkurt b ,O  zkan U  nal a , Osman Nuri Dilek b , Mustafa Harman a a Department of Radiology, Yu ¨zu ¨ncu ¨ Yıl Uniersity, School of Medicine, Tıp Faku ¨ltesi Hastanesi, 65200 Van, Turkey b Department of Surgery, Yu ¨zu ¨ncu ¨ Yıl Uniersity, School of Medicine, Tıp Faku ¨ltesi Hastanesi, 65200 Van, Turkey Received 2 April 1998; received in revised form 13 July 1998; accepted 11 September 1998 Abstract Objectie : To evaluate the efficacy of power Doppler ultrasonography in depicting increased vasculature and hyperemia around the superficial soft tissue abscess. Materials and methods : 21 patients with soft tissue abscess were evaluated with gray scale imaging, color Doppler sonography, power Doppler sonography and computed tomogra- phy. In each case attempts were made using power Doppler sonography to demonstrate any areas of increased vascularity around the lesion. The results were compared with computed tomographic findings. Results : Peripheral hyperemia and increased vasculature were demonstrated with power Doppler sonography in 19 of 21 patients with soft tissue abscess. The hyperemic area demonstrated around the wall of the abscess by power Doppler sonography was similar to the enhanced area shown by computed tomography performed after contrast administration. Conclusion : Power Doppler sonography shows increased vasculature and hyperemia in the wall of abscesses. Therefore, power Doppler sonography can be used to assist with the diagnosis of superficial soft tissue abscess. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Soft tissue infection; Abscess; Power Doppler sonography 1. Introduction Soft tissue abscesses are localized collection of pus causing fluctuant soft tissue swelling sur- rounded by erythema. It contains debris and gas bubbles. Highly vascularized connective tissue * Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 432 2162329; fax: +90 432 2168334. 0929-8266/98/$ - see front matter © 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. PII S0929-8266(98)00065-2