Computed tomography in the assessment of myonecrosis.

We report four patients with myonecrosis documented by computed tomography (CT) with either tissue or surgical correlation or both. CT can be used in the diagnosis of myonecrosis when the attenuation values of the muscle involved are lower than normal, or gas is present, or both findings are noted within the muscle planes. CT also helps differentiate myonecrosis from other inflammatory conditions of soft tissues adjacent to muscle as well as from such clinically similar processes as hematoma or deep venous thrombosis. The main causes of myonecrosis are discussed.