Value of Scrotal Ultrasonography in Diagnosis of Acute Scrotum

Kim, Eun Gil; Suh, Jun Kyu; Kim, Young Soo; Park, Tong Choon

Abstract

Differential diagnosis of acute scrotum is very important. As the chances of salvaging testicular function are inversely proportional to the elapsed time between onset of torsion/rupture and surgical repair of testes, prompt and accurate diagnosis is imperative. 17 patients with acute scrotum who had visited to the Department of Urology, Yeungnam University Hospital from June l985 to May l986 underwent scrotal ultrasonography to evaluate the value of scrotal ultrasonography for the differentiation of the diseases that cause acute scrotum. Scrotal ultrasonographic findings in 8 patients with acute epididymitis were enlargements of the epididymes with decreased echogenicity in 7 and enlargement of the epididymis and testis with mixed echogenicity in 1. In 3 patients with testicular torsion ultrasonogram revealed enlarged epididymis and testis with homogeneous and slightly decreased echogenicity in 1 patient of acute stage (within 24 hours) and enlarged epididymis and testes with diffuse mixed echogenicity in 2 patients. In 6 patients with scrotal trauma ultrasonogram revealed extratesticular fluid collection with well-defined intact in 1 patient of intrascrotal hematoma. 2 patients with testicular hematoma showed well-defined testes with intratesticular focal echolucent region on ultrasonogram. 3 patients with testicular rupture revealed mixed echogenicity in an injured hemiscrotum with well-defined testes in 2 out of 3.