What is the role of intravenous contrast material in the diagnosis of soft tissue infection?
Contrast material is helpful to delineate the presence and extent of soft tissue infection. In particular, it is often necessary to diagnose an abscess or other organized fluid collection. Although large abscesses or hematomas can be identified on unenhanced images, confident diagnosis is only possible by delineation of a nonenhancing fluid collection that is surrounded by soft tissue enhancement.
