The Journal of urology
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The Journal of urology · Mar 1994
Case ReportsScrotal ultrasound for evaluation of subacute testicular torsion: sonographic findings and adverse clinical implications.
There is an increased use of scrotal ultrasound in the clinician's office and emergency room for the investigation of scrotal pain. The use of real-time scrotal ultrasound for the diagnosis of testicular torsion has been described in the literature. A false-negative ultrasound examination can postpone the diagnosis of torsion and result in testicular loss. ⋯ Treatment was not delayed in only 2 patients in whom the diagnosis of torsion was made initially by history and physical examination, and ultrasound was done for interest only. Misdiagnosis of intratesticular blood flow and some potential pitfalls of scrotal imaging by color Doppler ultrasound are discussed. We conclude that real-time scrotal sonography can be misleading in cases of subacute testicular torsion and, therefore, it should not be used in this clinical setting.