The normal and abnormal scrotum in children: evaluation with color Doppler sonography.

The use of color Doppler sonography to evaluate the symptomatic testes in children with scrotal pain or swelling was prospectively studied with a fourth-generation color sonographic unit with a 7-MHz linear transducer. The 32 patients were 1 day to 18 years old (mean age, 8.6 years). Results were correlated with scintigraphic findings in 23 patients, with the final diagnosis established by surgery in 12 patients, and with clinical follow-up in all patients. Eight cases of testicular torsion, including two of acute torsion and six of late torsion, were correctly detected by color Doppler sonography and confirmed surgically. In the remaining patients, perfusion of the testis was correctly detected by color Doppler examination. The final diagnoses in these patients included torsion of the appendix testis (15 patients), epididymitis (five patients), epididymo-orchitis (one patient), yolk sac tumor of the testis (one patient), hydrocele (one patient), and local reaction to an insect bite (one patient). The ability to detect blood flow in the normal contralateral testis was also evaluated in 28 patients. Blood flow was demonstrated in normal testes larger than 1 cm3. Detection of flow in the very small normal prepubertal testis was often difficult, and no flow was identified in one testis. Flow was identified in central arteries in only six of 13 testes smaller than 1 cm3. We conclude that color Doppler sonography is helpful in the initial evaluation of pediatric testes, providing accurate evaluation of the involved hemi-scrotum in our patients and also providing the benefit of both structural and flow information. Until our sensitivity to low-velocity flow improves, we would not suggest the exclusive use of color Doppler sonography in the evaluation of testicular perfusion in the prepubertal patient. We advocate the addition of testicular scintigraphy to corroborate the presence of testicular perfusion when flow in intratesticular arteries cannot be established with certainty by color Doppler sonography.     

急性阴囊疾病的彩色多普勒超声诊断

目的探讨彩色多普勒超声对急性阴囊病变的诊断与鉴别诊断价值。方法对急性睾丸炎、急性附睾炎、睾丸损伤、睾丸扭转及附件扭转52例急性阴囊疾病的彩色多普勒超声图像进行对比分析。结果本组急性阴囊疾病的超声检查结果与临床最后诊断及手术结果完全一致。本组52例中，急性睾丸炎10例，急性附睾炎16例，睾丸损伤12例，睾丸扭转9例以及睾丸附件扭转5例。结论彩色多普勒超声可作为诊断与鉴别诊断急性阴囊疾病的首选的无创临床检查手段。     

Radionuclide imaging of sequential torsions of the appendix testis

Radionuclide imaging is the diagnostic procedure of choice for evaluation of acute disorders of the scrotum, permitting rapid differentiation of torsion of the spermatic cord from inflammatory processes. The method is less successful in diagnosing torsion of the testicular appendages. In the majority of reported cases of torsion of the appendix testis the scan appears normal. In a very limited number of cases increased perfusion to the affected side has been noted. We report a case of metachronous torsion of both the appendices testis. In each instance, there was decreased tracer uptake on the affected side, suggestive of early torsion of the testicle. The sequential involvement of each testis with a nine month interval between respective torsions provides a unique example where each testis serves, sequentially, as a normal control for the torsed contralateral appendage.     

Suspected testicular torsion and ischemia: evaluation with color Doppler sonography

Color Doppler sonography was performed in 32 patients with a painful scrotum in whom testicular ischemia from torsion or postherniorrhaphy was clinically suspected. Surgical correlation was available in 15 patients, and scintigraphic correlation was available in 17 patients. Seven of the 32 patients were diagnosed as having testicular ischemia from torsion. Color Doppler flow imaging demonstrated a lack of intratesticular flow in six of the seven testes with torsion and relatively normal intratesticular flow in one of the patients with acute torsion. Normal or increased intratesticular flow was demonstrated by color Doppler in all 57 of the nonischemic testes. Using the single criterion of presence or absence of identifiable intratesticular flow, the authors found that color Doppler was 86% sensitive, 100% specific, and 97% accurate in the diagnosis of torsion and ischemia in the painful scrotum. Color Doppler sonography is an accurate, noninvasive means of rapidly assessing perfusion of the testis in the painful scrotum.     

Evaluation of testicular viability by power Doppler ultrasonography in experimentally induced acute testicular torsion

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether torsed testis viability can be evaluated by ultrasonography (US) including power Doppler US in an experimental model of acute testicular torsion. METHOD: Eighteen rats underwent unilateral 540 degrees testicular torsion and contralateral orchiopexy. Gray-scale and power Doppler US were performed 24 hours later. We evaluated echogenicity, intratesticular vascular flow, and testis size. Echogenicity and intratesticular vascular flow were quantitatively analyzed by using a visual scale and computer-based analysis. After US, detorsion was performed in torsed testes, and 6 days after detorsion testes were excised to determine testicular viability, which was determined using gross and microscopic findings. US findings before detorsion were correlated with testicular viability. RESULTS: At US performed 24 hours after testicular torsion, all viable testes (n = 7) were homogeneous and isoechoic versus contralateral testes. In nonviable testes (n = 11), lower (82%) and heterogeneous (73%) echogenicities were seen on gray-scale US. Intratesticular vascular flow was preserved in 86% of viable testes. In nonviable testes, no intratesticular vascularity was observed in 82%, and intermittent, peripheral blood flow was detected in the remaining 18%. Intratesticular focal lesions were observed in 45% of nonviable testis. Quantitative analysis showed a statistically significant difference between viable and nonviable testes in terms of testicular echogenicity and intratesticular vascular flow. CONCLUSION: Preoperative US including power Doppler examination can predict testicular viability in testicular torsion. Echogenicity of nonviable testes was found to be hypoechoic and inhomogeneous. Power Doppler examination showed no or intermittent peripheral blood flow in nonviable testes.     

Intrauterine spermatic cord torsion in the newborn: sonographic and pathologic correlation

In five newborn patients with spermatic cord torsion, sonography demonstrated an enlarged and globular testis, hydrocele, and skin thickening. In four of these patients the testicular parenchyma was heterogeneous. Peripheral hypoechoic areas were seen in two of the four patients; the other two had a central hypoechoic region and a peripheral echogenic rim. The testis in the fifth patient was diffusely hyperechoic. Duplex Doppler sonography performed in two patients failed to demonstrate any signal in the spermatic cord in either the abnormal or contralateral hemiscrotum. Scintigraphic findings were positive for testicular torsion in two patients and equivocal in three patients. Surgery was performed 2-12 days after sonography and established the diagnosis of spermatic cord torsion. Pathologic examination demonstrated hemorrhagic infarction of the entire testis as well as scattered calcifications. The authors conclude that a solid globular testicular mass seen during the neonatal period is suggestive of intrauterine spermatic cord torsion.     

Does color Doppler sonography improve the clinical assessment of patients with acute scrotum?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Our experience concerning the use of color Doppler sonography (CDS) in the differential diagnosis of acute scrotum is reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From July 2000 to July 2005, 155 patients (median 17.2 years) were admitted with a diagnosis of acute scrotum (unilateral in 150 cases, bilateral in 5). Along with a careful anamnesis and the physical exam, all patients underwent a CDS study of the scrotal content using a sonograph GE Logiq 500 with a multifrequency (7.5-10 MHz) linear probe Small Part. The following CDS parameters were evaluated: intensity of the color-power signal on the testicular parenchyma and on the epididymis; systolic peak velocity (SPV) and telediastolic velocity (TDV) in correspondence of the gonadal hilum. Ultrasound and flowmetry parameters registered on the painful testis were compared with those registered on the healthy controlateral testis. The reduction/absence versus the increase of color-power signal in the parenchyma and the reduction/absence versus the increase of SPV and TDV in the centripetal intratesticular arteries were considered presumptive of testicular torsion versus orchiepididymitis. RESULTS: The results only refer to the 150 patients (300 testis) with acute monolateral scrotum. The clinical picture and the physical exam suggested a torsion of the spermatic cord in 40 cases, a spontaneous de-torsion in 5, an orchiepididymitis in 80, a blunt scrotal trauma in 15, a bulky epididymal cyst or a hydrocele in 4 and a testicular pain of unknown etiology in the remaining 6 cases. Standard US was pathological in 95 patients (63.3%); CDS was pathologic in 70 patients and in 42 of them suggested a testicular torsion. Fifty-three patients underwent surgical exploration: among 42 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of testicular torsion, the diagnosis was confirmed in 22 cases, no anomaly was found in 16 cases and in 4 patients a torsion of testicular appendix was found. The rupture of the tunica albuginea was present in six out of seven patients submitted to surgical exploration for previous blunt trauma and the sonographic diagnosis of hematocele was documented in all cases. The single false-negative diagnosis of testicular torsion in CDS occurred in an 18-month-old child. In presence of funicular torsion, the sensitivity and specificity of physical exam and CDS were 100% versus 95.7% and 86.5% versus 85.3%, respectively; sensitivity and specificity of SPV, TDV and color-Doppler signal on the testis were 100% and 94.8% versus 100% and 90.1% versus 95.7% and 90.8%. In the pre-operative assessment of scrotal trauma, the B-mode US showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 90%, respectively; the color Doppler analysis has not supplied with additional elements for planning a surgical exploration. In presence of orchiepididymitis, the sensitivity and specificity of the physical exam in association to CDS was equal to 100%. In all patients with torsion of the testicular appendix, physical exam and CDS parameters were within normal limits. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In our experience CDS is an indispensable imaging modality for the clinical assessment of patients with acute scrotum; however, the informations it can afford are operator-dependent and have to be supported by the history and physical exam of the patient. CDS findings constitute probably an important medico-legal support when the necessity of surgical exploration is excluded; anyway, in presence of a clinical suspicion of testicular torsion, even with an apparently normal CDS, the surgical exploration is recommended.     

Imaging of the testicle: The painful scrotum and nonpalpable masses

Scrotal pain is initially evaluated by color Doppler ultrasonography providing information on the presence or absence of flow within the testis and B Scan imaging providing important complementary information about lesions such as torsion of the appendix testis and testicular abscess. While radioisotope scanning provides similar information to color Doppler about testicular flow, it does not demonstrate the anatomy. Testicular imaging is extremely sensitive for “silent masses” and useful to evaluate palpable ones. Characteristic findings may be seen with simple testicular cysts and epidermoid cysts. Homogeneously hyperechoic masses have a variety of etiologies but are virtually always benign. A major limitation of a ultrasonography is the large number of nonneoplastic lesions which may mimic tumors.     

Imaging of the testicle: the painful scrotum and nonpalpable masses.

Scrotal pain is initially evaluated by color Doppler ultrasonography providing information on the presence or absence of flow within the testis and B Scan imaging providing important complementary information about lesions such as torsion of the appendix testis and testicular abscess. While radioisotope scanning provides similar information to color Doppler about testicular flow, it does not demonstrate the anatomy. Testicular imaging is extremely sensitive for "silent masses" and useful to evaluate palpable ones. Characteristic findings may be seen with simple testicular cysts and epidermoid cysts. Homogeneously hyperechoic masses have a variety of etiologies but are virtually always benign. A major limitation of a ultrasonography is the large number of nonneoplastic lesions which may mimic tumors.     

Acute appendicitis: sonographic criteria based on 250 cases

Two hundred and fifty consecutive patients with suspected appendicitis were examined with graded compression sonography. The initial diagnostic criterion for appendicitis was visualization of a noncompressible appendix; this was later modified to include the dimensions of the visualized appendix. The appendix was visualized in 91 of 250 patients (36%). Five adult patients with sonographically visible appendixes that were 6 mm or less in maximal diameter had either benign clinical follow-up (three patients) or a histologically normal appendix removed at surgery (two patients). However, two patients with appendixes measuring 6 mm in diameter and multiple appendicoliths had surgically confirmed acute appendicitis. Of 84 patients with visible appendixes measuring greater than 6 mm in maximal diameter, 78 had surgically confirmed acute appendicitis. In the remaining six, symptoms resolved spontaneously, and no surgery was required. In the absence of compelling clinical findings or an appendicolith, adult patients with maximal appendiceal diameters of 6 mm or less should undergo a period of close observation rather than immediate surgery. A diagnosis of appendicitis can be made in adult patients with persistent right lower quadrant pain and a visualized appendix greater than 6 mm in diameter.     

Testicular ischemia: color Doppler sonographic findings in five patients

We studied the findings on color Doppler sonography in five men with testicular ischemia (three with acute testicular torsion and two with testicular infarcts after herniorrhaphies). In all five cases, no intratesticular blood flow was identified on the symptomatic side, while normal blood flow was evident on the opposite side. In the three cases of acute torsion, no gray scale sonographic abnormalities were seen, and in the two cases of postoperative infarction, the abnormalities were nonspecific. These findings suggest that color Doppler sonography can be used to show decreased blood flow in cases of acute testicular ischemia and that it may have a role in evaluating patients with suspected testicular torsion.     

Testicular torsion revisited

Ultrasound is routinely used for the assessment and diagnosis of testicular torsion. It has proven to be a reliable and necessary diagnostic tool for the urologist. Problems, however, can arise in the form of misdiagnosis when the basic pathophysiology and clinical presentation of testicular torsion are not clearly understood. In this pictorial review, we present the spectrum of the appearance of testes with testicular torsion. This includes both complete and incomplete torsion. The critical use of Doppler and the interpretation of the Doppler findings will be presented. Other abnormalities that can be potentially confused with testicular torsion, including epididymitis and orchitis, will be shown. An approach to assessing the testis that stresses the critical role of both Doppler examination and an understanding of the clinical presentation will be presented. In particular, in incomplete torsion, a Doppler examination will still demonstrate flow to the testis, potentially leading to a missed diagnosis if the clinical presentation is not considered. Examples of normal and abnormal anatomy will be presented.     

Acute testicular torsion in children: the role of sonography in the diagnostic workup

Acute testicular torsion in children is an emergency and has to be diagnosed urgently. D oppler sonography is increasingly used in imaging the acute scrotum. Nevertheless, in uncertain cases, surgical exploration is required. In this study, we attempted to define the role of Doppler sonography in the diagnostic workup of the acutely painful scrotum. All patients admitted between 1999 and 2005 with acute scrotal pain were included. After clinical assessment, patients were imaged by Doppler sonography with a ‘‘high-end’’ instrument. In cases of absent arterial perfusion of the testis in Doppler sonography, surgical exploration was carried out. Patients with unaffected perfusion were followed clinically by ultrasound for up to 2 years. Sixty-one infants and children aged 1 day to 17 years (median: 7.9 years) were included. In 14 cases, sonography demonstrated absent central perfusion, with abnormal parenchymal echogenicity in six. Absence of venous blood flow together with reduction of central arterial perfusion was found in one infant. In these 15 patients, surgical exploration confirmed testicular torsion. Among the other 46 patients, we found four cases with increased testicular perfusion and 27 with increased perfusion of the epididymis. In one infant, a testicular tumour was found sonographically, and orchiectomy confirmed diagnosis of a teratoma. Follow-up examinations of the conservatively treated patients showed good clinical outcome with physiologic central perfusion as well as normal echogenic pattern of both testes. No case of testicular torsion was missed. By means of Doppler sonography, an unequivocal statement regarding testicular perfusion was possible in all cases. The initial Doppler diagnosis was confirmed by operative evaluation and follow-up ultrasound. Testicular torsion can therefore be excluded by correctly performed ultrasound with modern equipment. Patrick Gunther and Jens-Peter Schenk contributed equally to this work     

Imaging of the acute scrotum

The scrotum is a superficial structure and clinical examination is frequently not enough for making a specific diagnosis. In acute scrotal pain US can confirm the presumptive clinical diagnosis and provide additional relevant information. In testicular torsion, color-Doppler imaging has a central role since it has become possible to identify it at early stage by showing absence of perfusion in the affected testis before any gray-scale abnormality. Scintigraphy remains a satisfactory alternative in evaluating testicular torsion and should be used when color Doppler is inadequate, raising doubts about the suspected torsion. Diagnosis of torsion of testicular appendages is particularly difficult. Ischemic infarction shows a characteristic pattern at gray-scale and color-Doppler imaging, whereas hemorrhagic ischemia may require MRI. Inflammatory diseases of the scrotum can be easily investigated by echo color Doppler and conventional radiography, and CT can be particularly useful in the detection of gas bubbles. In scrotal trauma, scrotal hematoma, hematocele, intratesticular hematoma, and testicular rupture can be identified using gray-scale US with very good reliability. Magnetic resonance imaging is indicated when a small tear of tunica albuginea is suspected but not visualized on US. Received: 3 May 2000/Accepted: 8 June 2000     

Indium 111 white blood cell imaging of epididymitis

The clinical diagnosis of epididymitis is frequently substantiated radiographically with pertechnetate 99m (99mTc) testicular scintigraphy and scrotal sonography. Indium 111 (111In) autologous leukocyte imaging in a patient with epididymitis has to our knowledge not been reported previously. The case presented is an elderly man with epididymitis. An 111In-labelled white blood cell scan demonstrated increased tracer accumulation in the region of the right epididymis. This suggests that 111In-labelled leukocyte scanning may be helpful in evaluating an inflammatory process involving the epididymis or testis and potentially may allow for differentiation of epididymitis and orchitis from missed torsion, tumour or cystic lesions.     

Hodentorsion: Diagnose, Differenzialdiagnose und Therapie im Kindesalter

Acute scrotum represents an emergency situation although testicular torsion is present in less than 20% of the cases. Sonography has meanwhile become the definitive modality for diagnosis. Its increasing use before surgical intervention has led to technical improvements in ultrasound diagnostics and critical assessment of ultrasound criteria to exclude testicular torsion as well as standardization of examination procedures. Central arterial and venous perfusion shown to be bilaterally equal on Doppler sonography is the most important criterion for excluding torsion.This article discusses other criteria such as the "resistance index," comparison of parenchymal structure of both testes, evidence for spermatic cord torsion, or differences between the sides in perfusion of the testicular parenchyma and highlights the difficulties involved in partial and intermittent testicular torsion. Alternative investigative methods and the significance of sonography in the differential diagnosis of other underlying causes are addressed. In summary, the combination of interpreting B-mode imaging, color Doppler, and power Doppler sonography and analyzing Doppler flow curves after clinical examination results in successful and conclusive evaluation of the testes in cases of acute scrotum in boys.     

Color Doppler US in the evaluation of acute scrotal disease

Twenty-seven patients presented with painful acute scrotal swelling. After a clinical impression was established, all patients underwent diagnostic imaging with color Doppler ultrasound (US). Seven patients underwent surgical exploration for testicular torsion diagnosed with color Doppler US (100% operative confirmation), one underwent radical orchiectomy for treatment of seminoma, and one underwent orchidopexy for treatment of a freely mobile testis. Eighteen patients were treated for nonoperable conditions. Diagnoses made with color Doppler US correlated with final clinical diagnoses in all patients. In 10 of 27 patients (38%), the diagnosis was established at color Doppler US. Until now, nuclear scanning has had a paramount role in the evaluation of equivocal cases of acute scrotal disease. Results show that color Doppler US helps accurately correlate anatomy and perfusion in real time and may prove to be the definitive imaging technique for the diagnostic evaluation of acute scrotal pain or swelling.     

Angiography of the testicular artery. IV. Magnification angiography in intrascrotal abnormalities.

Magnification angiography of the testis with selective injection into the testicular artery has been performed in patients with different lesions in the scrotum, either real or suggested. Characteristic angiographic appearances were found in epididymitis, testicular torsion, tumor, hematoma and hydrocele.     

Indium 111 white blood cell imaging of epididymitis

The clinical diagnosis of epididymitis is frequently substantiated radiographically with pertechnetate 99m (^99mTc) testicular scintigraphy and scrotal sonography. Indium 111 (¹¹¹In) autologous leukocyte imaging in a patient with epididymitis has to our knowledge not been reported previously. The case presented is an elderly man with epididymitis. An¹¹¹In-labelled white blood cell scan demonstrated increased tracer accumulation in the region of the right epididymis. This suggests that¹¹¹In-labelled leukocyte scanning may be helpful in evaluating an inflammatory process involving the epididymis or testis and potentially may allow for differentiation of epididymitis and orchitis from missed torsion, tumour or cystic lesions.