Annals of Saudi medicine
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 1995
Ultrasonography detection of radiolucent foreign bodies in soft tissue compared to computed tomography scan.
Thirty-one patients with suspected radiolucent foreign bodies (wooden splinters) in soft tissues of extremities were investigated by plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography to the area suspected clinically. Ultrasonography detected and localized radiolucent foreign bodies in 18 of the 31 patients, while only 14 were seen on CT scan. ⋯ The size of foreign body, the presence of infection or the delay in diagnosis had no effect on results. Ultrasonography is clearly a reliable method of detecting radiolucent foreign bodies in soft tissues of extremities.