Wavelength Academy · Soft tissue
The hot or pulsatile lump: cellulitis, abscess, haematoma or pseudoaneurysm
A red, swollen or pulsatile lump raises one question before anyone reaches for a blade: what is inside it? Learn to separate cellulitis from abscess, make a collection swirl, spot the warning signs of necrotising fasciitis, find the neck of a pseudoaneurysm, and drain safely under ultrasound.
- 1 hour CPD
- 5 lessons
- 6 cases
- 17-question assessment
- Pass mark 80%
- Free
What you will learn
- Scan a superficial swelling with the right probe, settings and comparison views
- Separate cellulitis from abscess, and recognise a collection by its swirl
- Recognise the ultrasound features which raise concern for necrotising fasciitis, and escalate without delay
- Use colour and pulsed-wave Doppler to identify haematoma, pseudoaneurysm and true aneurysm
- Recognise the lumps which must not be incised, and plan ultrasound-guided drainage safely
- Document findings and refer appropriately
Lessons
- Context: what is inside the lump?8 min
- Technique: the superficial scan8 min
- Cellulitis or abscess: make it swirl12 min
- Necrotising fasciitis: look below the cobblestones10 min
- Vascular lumps: find the neck14 min
- Safe drainage and documentation8 min
- Cases10 min
- Final assessment: 17 questions, pass mark 80%10 min
Who it is for
Emergency, acute and urgent care doctors, advanced clinical practitioners and physician associates who assess skin and soft tissue swellings or drain abscesses.
Your certificate
Pass the assessment and we email your certificate as a PDF: your name, the module, 1 hour of CPD, the date and a code anyone can check at thewavelength.co.uk/elearning/verify. Upload it to your e-portfolio with a short reflection. Wavelength issues the certificate itself. It is not accredited by an external body, so record the hours as self-directed CPD under your own college or regulator's rules. The certificate records completed learning. Sign-off to scan independently stays with your department.
About this module
Author. Dr Firas Abou-Auda, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Course Director, Wavelength.
Published. October 2026. Next review. October 2028.
Conflicts of interest. Dr Firas Abou-Auda is Course Director of Wavelength, which runs paid ultrasound courses.
References
- Gottlieb M, et al. Point-of-care ultrasonography for the diagnosis of skin and soft tissue abscesses: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2020.
- Subramaniam S, et al. Point-of-care ultrasound for diagnosis of abscess in skin and soft tissue infections. Academic Emergency Medicine. 2016.
- Castleberg E, Jenson N, Dinh VA. Diagnosis of necrotizing faciitis with bedside ultrasound: the STAFF exam. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2014;15:111-13.
- Yen ZS, et al. Ultrasonographic screening of clinically-suspected necrotizing fasciitis. Academic Emergency Medicine. 2002;9:1448-51.
- Webber GW, et al. Contemporary management of postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms. Circulation. 2007;115:2666-74.
- American College of Emergency Physicians. Ultrasound guidelines: emergency, point-of-care and clinical ultrasound guidelines in medicine. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2023.
- Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Point-of-care ultrasound appendix to the RCEM curriculum.