Skip to main content
Log in

Ultrasonography of scrotal trauma

  • Published:
Urologic radiology

Abstract

Ultrasound has emerged as the diagnostic imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of patients with scrotal trauma. Most studies of testicular rupture show great accuracy with virtually no instances of false-positive or false-negative diagnoses. Ultrasonography is capable of differentiating between scrotal hematoma, extratesticular fluid collections, posttraumatic torsion testis, posttraumatic epididymitis, epididymal hematoma, as well as testicular rupture. The differentiation of hematocele from pyocele or exudative hydrocele is generally not possible. In patients with suspected testicular rupture, an accurate diagnosis followed by prompt surgical repair is the key to preservation of testicular function. Ultrasound is an extremely useful adjunct to the physical examination in cases of blunt scrotal trauma both for the differential diagnosis of the enlarged scrotum and for determining the necessity for emergency surgery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson KA, McAninch JW, Jeffrey RB, Laing FC: Ultrasonography for the diagnosis and staging of blunt scrotal trauma.J Urol 130:933–935, 1983

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Jeffrey RB, Laing FC, Hricak H, McAninch JW: Sonography of testicular trauma.AJR 141:993–995, 1983

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Becker JM, Ritchie WGM, Goldenberg NJ: Ultrasound of the scrotum and its contents.Semin Ultrasound 3:348–356, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lupetin AR, King W III, Rich PJ, Lederman RB: The traumatized scrotum: ultrasound evaluation.Radiology 148:203–207, 1983

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hricak H, Jeffrey RB: Sonography of acute scrotal abnormalities.Radiol Clin North Am 21:595–603, 1983

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Redman JF, Rountree GA, Bissada NK: Injuries to scrotal contents by blunt trauma.Urology 7:190–191, 1976

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. McCormack JL, Kretz AW, Tocantins R: Traumatic rupture of the testicle.J Urol 96:80–83, 1966

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gross M: Rupture of the testicle: the importance of early surgical management.J Urol 101:196–197, 1969

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bronk WS, Berry JL: Traumatic rupture of the testicle: report of a case and a review of the literature.J Urol 87:564–566, 1962

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Culp DA: Penoscrotal trauma. In Glenn JF (ed):Urologic Surgery, 3rd ed. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1983, pp 813–820

    Google Scholar 

  11. Donohue JP: The testis. In Paulson DF (ed):Genitourinary Surgery. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1984, pp 655–730

    Google Scholar 

  12. Leopold GR, Woo VL, Scheible FW, Nachtsheim D, Gosink BB: High-resolution ultrasonography of scrotal pathology.Radiology 131:719–722, 1979

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sample WF, Gottesman JE, Skinner DG, Ehrlich RM: Gray scale ultrasound of the scrotum.Radiology 127:225–228, 1978

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hricak H, Filly RA: Sonography of the scrotum.Invest Radiol 18:112–121, 1983

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Reproductive organs of the male. In Warwick R, Williams PL (eds):Gray’s Anatomy, 35th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1973, pp 1336–1351

    Google Scholar 

  16. Harrison RG: The urogenital system. In Romanes GJ (ed):Cumingham’s Textbook of Anatomy, 11th ed. London: Oxford University Press, 1972, pp 523–535

    Google Scholar 

  17. Friedman SG, Rose JG, Winston MA: Ultrasound and nuclear medicine evaluation in acute testicular trauma.J Urol 125:748–749, 1981

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Holder, LE, Melloul M, Chen D: Current status of radionuclide scrotal imaging.Semin Nucl Med 11:232–249, 1981

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Albert NE: Testicular ultrasound for trauma.J Urol 124:558–559, 1980

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schaffer, R.M. Ultrasonography of scrotal trauma. Urol Radiol 7, 245–249 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02926891

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02926891

Key words

Navigation