Sonographic differential diagnosis of acute scrotum: real-time whirlpool sign, a key sign of torsion.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the role of high‐resolution and color Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of acute scrotum and testicular torsion in particular. Methods. Patients who underwent sonography for acute scrotum between April 2000 and September 2005 were included in the study. Gray scale and color Doppler sonography of the scrotum was performed. The spermatic cord was studied on longitudinal and transverse scans from the inguinal region up to the testis, and the whirlpool sign was looked for. Results. During this period, 221 patients underwent sonography for acute scrotum. Sixty‐five had epididymo‐orchitis with a straight spermatic cord, a swollen epididymis, testis, or both, an absent focal lesion in the testis, and increased flow on color Doppler studies along with the clinical features of infection. Three had testicular abscesses. Sonography revealed features of torsion of testicular appendages in 23 patients and acute idiopathic scrotal edema in 19. Complete torsion was seen in 61 patients who had the whirlpool sign on gray scale imaging and absent flow distal to the whirlpool. There was incomplete torsion in 4 patients in whom the whirlpool sign was seen on both gray scale and color Doppler imaging. Nine patients had segmental testicular infarction, and 1 had a torsion‐detorsion sequence revealing testicular hyperemia. In 14 patients, the findings were equivocal. There was a complicated hydrocele, mumps orchitis, and vasculitis of Henoch‐Schönlein purpura in 1 patient each. Five patients had normal findings. Fourteen were lost for follow‐up. Conclusions. Sonography of acute scrotum should include study of the spermatic cord. The sonographic real‐time whirlpool sign is the most specific and sensitive sign of torsion, both complete and incomplete. Intermittent testicular torsion is a challenging clinical condition with a spectrum of clinical and sonographic features.     

实时精索团块在超声诊断睾丸扭转中的价值

目的 探讨实时精索团块在超声诊断睾丸扭转中的价值。方法 经超声检查的睾丸扭转患者42例,分析其阴囊的二维及彩色多普勒超声表现,仔细研究精索的走行,寻找有无实时精索团块。结果 所有病例均经手术证实。37例为完全扭转,二维及彩色多普勒上均可见精索团块,精索团块及其远端无血流信号。5例为不完全扭转,二维及彩色多普勒上均可见精索团块,精索团块内血流减少。结论 实时精索团块是诊断睾丸完全、不完全扭转最敏感、最特异的超声表现。     

The acute scrotum

In boys and adolescents, the acute scrotum usually results from one of three diseases: torsion of the spermatic cord, torsion of the appendix testis, or epididymitis. A rapid diagnosis of torsion of the cord, if present, is essential, and as soon as this diagnosis is made, arrangements must be made for timely surgical correction. Although a diagnosis for the acute scrotum in this age group can sometimes be made on the basis of the history, pathognomonic signs, and basic laboratory analysis of the urine and a urethral discharge, in the usual case diagnosis requires a Doppler ultrasound examination (which if positive for torsion makes the diagnosis), a radionuclide scan (for cases negative or indeterminate for torsion on the Doppler examination), or, as a last resort, scrotal exploration. In men, by far the most common cause of the acute scrotum is epididymitis, with the torsions being much less common. In heterosexual young men with epididymitis, N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis are the most likely etiologic organisms; in homosexual men and older men (and boys), E. coli, Pseudomonas sp., and the gram-positive cocci are the most common pathogens. Ceftriaxone plus tetracycline is the initial antimicrobial regimen of choice in heterosexual young men; in the absence of evidence of a sexually transmitted pathogen, one of the antimicrobials effective against common urinary tract pathogens is the initial antimicrobial of choice in all other patients. When torsion of the cord is suspected in adult male patients, the Doppler examination and the radionuclide scan (if the Doppler is negative or indeterminate) can again make the diagnosis or rule it out.     

Role of color-Doppler US in the evaluation of scrotal edema

Ultrasound (US) examination in combination with color-Doppler US is the imaging modality of choice for evaluating the scrotum. Scrotal conditions are generally divided into testicular and extratesticular disorders; the latter may affect the epididymis, the spermatic cord, the tunica vaginalis, the skin and the subcutaneous tissue. The embryology of the scrotal contents is complex and has a number of anatomical and clinical consequences. We present the case of a patient with extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma of the thigh and ipsilateral scrotal swelling caused by lymphatic edema secondary to inguinal lymph node involvement. US combined with color-Doppler allowed differentiation between lymphoma or neoplastic involvement and lymphedema or vascular edema. If the US operator is thoroughly familiar with the scrotal lymphatic and vascular system, US imaging can help identify the pathogenesis of the edema and provide the clinicians and surgeons with important information.     

Testicular ultrasound

Acute scrotal pain makes up approximately 0.5% of all complaints presenting to an emergency department. Some of the most com-mon diagnoses for this complaint are testicular torsion and epididymitis. Misdiagnosing testicular torsion can lead to organ loss,cosmetic deformity, and compromised fertility. Modem ultrasound examination of the scrotum is the test of choice for acute scrotal pathology and yields high accuracy compared with surgical exploration. A key component of the testicular examination is use of power and spectral Doppler ultrasonography. Examination of the acute scrotum should not be undertaken unless Doppler capability is available because the evaluation of blood flow is such an important part of diagnosis of testicular torsion, orchitis, epididymitis,trauma, and hemorrhage into a mass.     

ACR Appropriateness Criteria ® acute onset of scrotal pain--without trauma, without antecedent mass

Men or boys, who present with acute scrotal pain without prior trauma or a known mass, most commonly suffer from torsion of the spermatic cord; epididymitis or epididymoorchitis; or torsion of the testicular appendages. Less common causes of pain include a strangulated hernia, segmental testicular infarction, or a previously undiagnosed testicular tumor. Ultrasound is the study of choice to distinguish these disorders; it has supplanted Tc-99 m scrotal scintigraphy for the diagnosis of spermatic cord torsion. MRI should be used in a problem solving role if the ultrasound examination is inconclusive. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria ? are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every two years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances where evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment.     

Torsion of the spermatic cord: the main gray-scale and doppler sonographic signs

Scrotal ultrasonography (US) is usually the initial imaging modality for evaluating patients who present with acute pathologic conditions of the scrotum. Acute epididymitis, acute epididymo-orchitis, torsion of the spermatic cord (TSC), and other acute scrotal abnormalities may have similar findings at clinical examination. Pain and swelling make the clinical examination difficult, sometimes practically impossible, potentially resulting in management delays. The objective of this review is to summarize the main clinical signs of the TSC and to illustrate and briefly discuss the US features of this entity, including gray-scale imaging, color Doppler with spectral analysis, and power Doppler sonography. Although TSC can occur at any age, it is most common in adolescent boys. The intensity of the symptoms and the US findings vary with the duration of the torsion, number of twists in the spermatic cord (degree of rotation), and how tightly the vessels of the cord are compressed. An enlarged, more spherical, and diffusely hypoechogenic testis without detectable arterial and venous testicular flow at color and power Doppler US is considered diagnostic of acute testicular ischemia. The presence of a color or power Doppler signal in one part of the testis does not exclude TSC. Positive blood flow but significantly diminished, usually near or inside the mediastinum, may be found, mainly in the partial or incomplete TSC. Identification of a large echogenic extratesticular mass distal to the site of the torsion, frequently misinterpreted as a chronic epididymitis, can be the key to the diagnosis of TSC. When a small arterial sign is found a low amplitude waveform is present with an increased resistive index on the affected side due to a diminished, absent, or reversed diastolic flow. Gray-scale imaging, color Doppler, power Doppler and pulsed Doppler with spectral analysis are very effective to make or exclude the diagnosis of TSC.     

彩色多普勒超声在精索扭转诊断鉴别诊断中的应用研究进展

在泌尿外科中,精索扭转是导致急性阴囊胀痛常见致病因素,在临床中极易出现漏诊及误诊情况。在以往的评估诊断中大多采用常规超声辅助检查,但该项检测不能够对微小血管及低速血流进行准确显示,进而不利于病情准确判定。彩色多普勒超声属于一种新型的超声检查技术,本研究通过对精索扭转患者采用彩色多普勒超声诊断,进而对其应用价值展开综述。     

Torsion of the spermatic cord: sonographic diagnosis

This article describes the ultrasound guidelines for evaluating patients with spermatic cord torsion, including gray-scale, Doppler with spectral analysis, and color and power Doppler sonography. The sonographic and Doppler features of acute, subacute, and chronic torsion of the spermatic cord are demonstrated and discussed.     

A review of ultrasound imaging in scrotal emergencies

Scrotal emergencies represent a small proportion of admissions to the emergency department; however, the intimate nature and potential for serious outcome often cause great anxiety. Rapid assessment is required to exclude fertility-threatening conditions and expedite surgical management. Ultrasound is an essential tool in acute scrotal assessment as it allows rapid, radiation-free, high-resolution imaging and, importantly, assessment of vascularity with colour Doppler imaging. In the presentation of the acute scrotum, the “on-call” practitioner will frequently be asked to exclude pathology requiring surgical management, in particular torsion of the spermatic cord. To provide an accurate evaluation the individual is required to have an understanding of scrotal anatomy, sonographic technique and recognition of pathology. This review article will familiarise the reader with the sonographic findings of common acute scrotal pathology.     

Role of Doppler Ultrasonography in the Triage of Acute Scrotum in the Emergency Department

Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the triage role of scrotal Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) as the primary preoperative diagnostic tool in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute scrotum. Methods. Patients who presented to the ED with acute scrotum and underwent scrotal DUS in the ultrasound unit over a 3‐year period (2004–2007) were included in the study. Patient characteristics, DUS findings, and clinical management were retrospectively collected and reviewed. Doppler ultrasonographic diagnoses were compared with histopathologic findings for patients who underwent exploration and with final diagnoses at the time of discharge for patients undergoing medical treatment. Results. A total of 620 consecutive patients with 669 DUS examinations were included. The most common scrotal DUS diagnoses were epididymitis, hydrocele, varicocele, and orchitis. Scrotal trauma was present in 77 cases. Hospitalization followed the initial ED evaluation for 155 patients; 68 underwent surgery. Testicular torsion was ultrasonographically suspected in 20 patients and confirmed in 18. Scrotal malignancy was incidentally diagnosed in 13 patients and testicular hematoma in 8. Doppler ultrasonography for the diagnosis of testicular torsion had 94% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 95.5% accuracy, an 89.4% positive predictive value (PPV), and a 98% negative predictive value (NPV). Doppler ultrasonography for the diagnosis of testicular malignancy had 92% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 94% accuracy, a 78.5% PPV, and a 98% NPV. Conclusions. Scrotal DUS is a highly sensitive preoperative diagnostic tool, thereby validating its routine use in the initial triage of patients with acute scrotum presenting to the ED.     

超声多普勒检查在阴囊急症中的应用

目的 探讨阴囊急症的彩色多普勒血流显像（CDFI）和彩色多普勒能量图（CDE）特征及其鉴别诊断。方法 用CDFI和CDE观察64例阴囊急症病灶区血供状况,并与健侧比较。对37例急性附睾炎及睾丸炎的附睾动脉和3例早期睾丸扭转的睾丸内动脉的血流参数进行检测,并与30例正常人对照。结果 45例急性附睾炎及睾丸炎中37例表现为高血供,附睾内血流速度明显高于正常对照组,阻力指数低于正常对照组（P〈0．01）;5例病变侧睾丸无血供或低血供,睾丸内血流阻力指数增高,超声诊断睾丸扭转,与手术病理诊断相符;3例睾丸附件扭转,附件内无血流信号显示,而附着处组织血供增多;11例阴囊外伤中,睾丸完全破裂1例,部分破裂2例,挫伤5例,单纯血肿3例。结论 CDFI和CDE可准确地鉴别睾丸扭转、睾丸附件扭转和炎症,有助于睾丸损伤的临床治疗方案的选择,可作为阴囊急症诊断的首选检查方法。     

Acute diseases of the scrotum.

Several imaging modalities are available for evaluating the patient with acute scrotal pain. Until recently, scintigraphy was the initial procedure of choice in most patients, as it was the only noninvasive technique for determining integrity of blood flow to the testicle. Ultrasound was valuable when the scintiscan was inconclusive or in the setting of scrotal trauma. With the advent of color Doppler sonography, information about both structure and blood flow can be obtained by means of a single imaging study. If initial promising results with this newer technique are borne out, color Doppler is likely to become the primary diagnostic test in patients with acute scrotal pain. The role of MRI and MRS has yet to be defined.     

Experimental study of the sonographic diagnosis of testicular torsion.

The sonographic and Doppler features of acute spermatic cord torsion were investigated in eight dogs. Serial sonography following torsion demonstrated unambiguous abnormalities in all experimental subjects within one hour. The observed abnormalities included increase in size of the spermatic cord, testis, and epididymis, decrease in echogenicity of the testis and epididymis, and loss of Doppler signal from the cord. Sonographic abnormalities were clearly visible before any histologic change was detected and well in advance of the onset of cellular necrosis. Since every experimental subject had an abnormal testicle, the identification of a normal testicle in a clinical setting is felt to exclude torsion. Combined gray-scale sonographic and Doppler features appear promising in the diagnosis of acute spermatic cord torsion and its distinction from acute epididymo-orchitis.     

Scrotal sonography revisited

Sonography is the imaging modality of choice for the scrotum because it is simple, relatively inexpensive, and quick. Recent technological advances and transducer improvements have led to exquisite high‐resolution detail in gray‐scale as well as Doppler imaging. The purposes of this pictorial essay are to review the anatomy and embryology of the scrotal contents and to review the various scrotal and extrascrotal pathologic conditions, including acute scrotum, pediatric and adult testicular and extratesticular scrotal neoplasms, traumatic lesions, and miscellaneous other scrotal lesions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2010     

小儿阴囊急症的诊断和处理（附106例临床分析）

目的：探讨小儿阴囊急症的临床诊断和处理方法。方法：回顾性分析我院自1985-1999年收治的106例睾丸扭转、睾丸附件扭转和睾丸附睾炎的小儿阴囊急症病例。对其在病史、体征和彩色多普勒超声等方面进行统计学处理。结果：全部14例睾丸扭转均有睾丸触痛和提睾反射消失。有6例睾丸扭转患者通过彩色多普勒超声证实而手术,睾丸附件扭转88.9%有附睾触痛,85.2%有睾丸上极触痛以及37.0%有硬结,睾丸附睾炎90.8%有阴囊红肿,结论：体格检查在鉴别小儿阴囊急症中有显著作用。提睾反射的消失是睾丸扭转最敏感。最准确的体格检查表现。彩色多普勒超声在小儿阴囊急症的诊断中是一项有价值的辅助检查。如已明确或怀疑睾丸扭转,应尽可能早地施行探查手术。     

Gray-scale and power doppler sonographic appearances of acute inflammatory diseases of the scrotum

PURPOSE: We describe the spectrum of gray-scale and power Doppler sonographic appearances in inflammatory scrotal diseases. METHODS: Twenty-five patients ranging in age from 3 to 69 years underwent gray-scale and power Doppler sonography with multifrequency transducers of 7-9 MHz or 10-13 MHz. In addition, color Doppler and power Doppler findings were compared in 7 cases. RESULTS: In all 5 prepubertal patients, power Doppler imaging demonstrated hyperemia associated with epididymitis and, in some cases, orchitis. Among the 20 pubertal and adult patients, power Doppler imaging revealed increased vascularity associated with spermatic cord involvement, epididymitis, orchiepididymitis, or orchitis. Enlargement and heterogeneity of the epididymis and/or testis were seen in 11 patients, with vas efferens ectasia in 3 patients. Abscess formation and testicular infarction were easily depicted by power Doppler imaging. In 5 cases total, hyperemia was the only sonographic finding of inflammation. In the comparison between color and power Doppler imaging, a subjective increase in the number and length of vessels was seen with power Doppler imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Power Doppler imaging is an easy and fast Doppler modality for evaluating inflammatory conditions of the scrotum and proved especially useful in cases with no gray-scale sonographic anomalies, in prepubertal patients, and in patients with abscesses or ischemic lesions.     

彩色多普勒超声对睾丸附件扭转的诊断价值

目的 探讨彩色多普勒超声对睾丸附件扭转的诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析我院经手术或临床随访证实的35例睾丸附件扭转患者的声像图资料.结果 所有患者均可在睾丸上极与附睾头附近探及一非均质高回声结节,结节内未探及血流信号;22例患者同时伴有同侧睾丸及附睾轻度增大,且彩色多普勒血流信号较对侧相对增多;24例患者伴有同侧精索增粗;...     

Testicular torsion: a surgical emergency

Testicular torsion is caused by twisting of the spermatic cord, which results in compromised testicular blood flow. The degree of ischemic injury is determined by the severity of arterial compression and the interval between the onset of symptoms and surgical intervention. Torsion usually occurs at puberty, and an anatomic defect known as "bell-clapper" deformity is usually present. Typical symptoms include acute scrotal pain with associated nausea and vomiting. Up to one-half of patients report previous similar episodes. On examination, the testis is high-riding, tender, swollen and firm. Testicular scan or Doppler ultrasound examination can be helpful in distinguishing torsion from acute epididymitis. Prompt surgical treatment is indicated to reduce the torsion, and bilateral orchiopexy is performed to prevent recurrence. Exocrine function, as determined by semen analysis, is often abnormal after unilateral torsion.     

Testicular infarction becoming apparent after hernia reduction

Background: Testicular infarction from an incarcerated inguinal hernia is a rare event in children, often not considered in the initial evaluation. Objective: To report a case that describes the presentation, diagnosis, and management of testicular infarction in the setting of an incarcerated inguinal hernia. Case Report: A 2-month old boy was brought to the Emergency Department (ED) by his parents for vomiting, crying, and a left-sided scrotal swelling. An inguinal hernia was manually reduced successfully in the ED. Subsequently, scrotal ultrasound with color Doppler was obtained, demonstrating no blood flow to the left testis. The patient underwent a left orchiectomy and right orchiopexy with hernia repair. Discussion: Testicular injury can occur from torsion due to the effect of an incarcerated hernia or due to ischemia from cord compression. Delay in diagnosis and surgery risks testicular viability, therefore, surgery should not be delayed for imaging in the presence of strong suspicion of torsion. Conclusions: The diagnosis of testicular torsion is not always straightforward because many conditions may have a similar clinical presentation or may compromise testicular blood supply. This case is an unusual presentation of testicular infarction in the setting of an incarcerated inguinal hernia.