Diabetic mastopathy is uncommon but occurs in long-term insulin-dependent diabetic patients who develop hard palpable breast masses which mimic breast cancer and are occult mammographically. Ultrasound evaluation is useful to analyze the masses. There is a spectrum of ultrasound findings from marked acoustic shadowing to a vague hypoechoic area without shadowing. Ultrasound-guided core biopsy (CB) is recommended for a definitive diagnosis since fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) yields insufficient material for diagnosis secondary to extensive fibrosis. Four of the 11 patients in our series had FNAB, which was reported as insufficient material for diagnosis. However, 10 of 11 patients with diabetic mastopathy were successfully diagnosed by ultrasound-guided CB, helping to avoid an unnecessary surgical excisional biopsy.

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The use of ultrasound in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of 5 patients with renal abscesses is described. A spectrum of ultrasonic findings was noted, with the majority of the lesions being anechoic (3 cases). However, a few lesions showed a mixed pattern (2 cases). Ultrasonic aspiration of abscess fluid for culture and sensitivity obviated an operation in 1 case. For the first time, ultrasonically guided, percutaneous, indwelling catheter drainage of a renal carbuncle is reported. Since the patient had failed to respond to systemic antibiotic therapy this technique saved the patient from undergoing an operation. The clinical and ultrasonic findings in the 6 previous case reports of abscesses are reviewed.