Abscess formation is a common cause of hospital admission among intravenous drug abusers. As vascular access becomes more difficult secondary to venous sclerosis, subcutaneous extravasation of irritants and bacteria occurs, resulting in injection abscesses. When addicts can no longer inject drugs intravenously, they often resort to the intentional subcutaneous administration of drugs known commonly as "skin popping." These Tc-99m HMPAO labeled WBC images and lower extremity radiographs are from a 29-year-old man with a 6-month history of nonhealing ulcers and skin necrosis of both legs due to skin popping of heroin and cocaine.
展开▼
