Role of high resolution ultrasound and colour doppler in diagnosis and differentiation of scrotal pathologies

Abstract

Aims: To assess the role of high resolution ultrasound and colour Doppler in diagnosis and differentiation of scrotal pathologies. Material and Methods: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Radiology, Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India, from July 2017 to July 2018. The 80 patients with clinical features of scrotal diseases were included in this study. All the patients included in the study underwent scrotal ultrasonography using 7.0- 12.0 MHZ high frequency linear array transducer coupled with Colour Doppler in LOGIQ P6 PRO equipment. Results: The study included a total of 80 patients. The patients most commonly involved were those belonging to the age group of 30 to 40 years (n = 30; 37.5%). The least number of patients belonged to the age group of 0-10 years (n = 3; 3.75%). On USG, the total numbers of lesions detected were 100. The most common cause of scrotal pathologies was hydrocele (n=25, 25%) followed by epididymal cyst (n= 17, 17%), epididymo-orchitis (n =14, 14%), epididymitis (n = 8; 8%), funiculitis (n=7, 7%), varicocele (n = 6, 6%), pyocele (n= 5, 5%), testicular torsion (n=4, 4%), testicular abscess (n = 4, 4%), inguino-scrotal hernia (n = 3, 3%), testicular microlithiasis (n= 2, 2%), testicular tumour (n=2, 2%) and tubercular epididymo-orchitis (n=2, 2%) .

Conclusion: High frequency Ultrasonography with Color Doppler study serves as an excellent diagnostic imaging modality in the evaluation of scrotal diseases. It is the investigation of choice since it is highly sensitive, easy to perform, widely available, repeatable and involves no risk of ionizing radiation. Periodic follow-up USG scans are recommended for patients with inflammatory scrotal lesions to monitor response to treatment and to reveal the development of complications.

Keywords: Torsion; Epididymo-orchitis; Varicocele; Hydrocele; Epididymitis; Pyocele; Testicular microlithiasis; Epididymal Cyst; Testicular Tumour.