The utility of chemical shift imaging and related fat suppression as standalone technique in cryptorchidism using low field MRI

Cryptorchidism is failure of one or both testes to descend completely into the scrotum. The testis can be located anywhere along its journey of descent, between the lower pole of the kidney and the inguinal canal. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of chemical shift imaging and Dixon based fat suppression using low field MRI in non-palpable undescended testicle. Patients and methods: From July 2017 through February 2018, Twenty eight boys, presented by either unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism, with total number of forty testicles, underwent MRI study using low field machine in T1-weighted dual gradient-echo in-phase and opposed-phase sequence with Dixon based fat suppression. Results: Based on the laparoscopic/operative data, twenty one testes were located at the inguinal region, whereas fifteen testes were pelvi-abdominal and four were absent. The whole image sets of CSI and Dixon fat suppression had the highest specificity and positive predictive value (100%) and the highest overall accuracy (95%) for detection of undescended testes. Conclusion: chemical shift imaging combined with Dixon based fat suppression is reliable imaging tool as a standalone technique for evaluating cryptorchidism, providing high specificity and diagnostic accuracy.