A Comparative Study of Scrotal Pathologies by Ultrasound and Their Correlation with CT and MRI

Background: The scrotum is a readily examinable structure clinically in normal conditions. However, in cases of swelling and tenderness, its clinical examination alone may not reveal any significant information. Therefore, imaging techniques such as ultrasound including CT and MRI may be required in cases. We in the current study tried to evaluate the role of ultrasound, CT, and MRI in the evaluation of scrotal pathologies. Methods: All the cases of scrotal pathologies referred from the Departments of Urology and General Surgery, were included in the study. All the patients were studied using Highfrequency real-time grayscale ultrasonography and Doppler. Before subjecting the patients for ultrasound examination, patient details, detailed clinical history was obtained along with thorough physical examination. The color Doppler sonography was routinely performed in all these patients. Subsequently, these cases were followed up and correlated with histopathology report, fine needle aspiration cytology results, surgical findings, response to treatment. Results: Out of n=50 cases studied most of the casesClinically presented with a combination of multiple symptoms wasscrotal swelling, as in n=18 cases (36%).Out of which n=30(60%) were unilateral and n=20(40%) werebilateral.Combination of pain, swelling, and fever in four cases (8%). The n=30 unilateral swelling showed n=14 cases of right-side involvement and n=16 cases of left-side involvement. Of n=5 cases of congenital anomaly associated with the descent of testes, n=2 cases were referred with clinical suspicion of incompletely descended testes, which were clinically palpable. 4% cases of scrotal and testicular trauma were detected. Among non-neoplastic scrotal swellings, hydrocele is the commonest pathology noted in n=9 cases. Epididymal cyst in n=2 cases, varicocele in n=6 cases. Conclusion: ultrasonography is best for the demonstration of morphological changes due to acute scrotal inflammation. The color doppler sonography can accurately differentiate between testicular ischemia and torsion from acute inflammatory diseases. High-frequency ultrasonography with Doppler is highly sensitive in demonstrating the varicoceles. MRI provides better delineation of borders, cystic components, and tissue signal intensities of the testicular masses. CT is the imaging modality of choice for detecting metastatic deposits

Differential Diagnosis of Acute Scrotum in Childhood and Adolescence with High-Resolution Duplex Sonography

Acute testicular pain in childhood can be caused by testicular torsion, torsion of the appendix testis, or epididymo-orchitis. Quick and reliable diagnosis is essential for determining the further course of action (surgery or conservative approach). The diagnostic tool of choice is high-resolution sonography with a linear transducer (> 10 MHz) combined with color and spectral Doppler sonography. The Doppler device settings should include a low pulse repetition frequency (< 4 cm/s), a low wall filter (< 100 Hz), and adequate gain. Comparison with the unaffected healthy testis is essential. The most important of the three diseases is torsion of the spermatic cord because it requires immediate surgical intervention and detorsion. The affected testis is enlarged and has an inhomogeneous echotexture with hypoechoic and hyperechoic areas as well as an associated hydrocele. In testicular torsion, color Doppler shows reduced or absent intratesticular vessels in comparison with the healthy contralateral testis. Spectral Doppler shows decreased flow velocities especially during diastole in intratesticular arteries and an increased resistance index. The investigation should always include imaging of the spermatic cord from the outer inguinal ring to the upper pole of the testis. In contrast to a normal finding, the vessels and the ductus deferens are not displayed as linear tubular structures but in form of a spiral twist. Ultrasound shows a target-like structure with multiple concentric rings. Color Doppler sonography shows the typical whirlpool sign. In torsion of the appendix testis, the appendix testis is enlarged in the groove between the testis and epididymis. The longitudinal diameter of the appendix testis can be greater than 5 mm. The echogenicity of the torsed appendage can vary between hypoechoic (acute torsion) and hyperechoic (prior torsion). An associated hydrocele of varying size is usually seen. Color Doppler sonography reveals a lack of perfusion of the enlarged appendix testis and increased vascularity of the testis and primarily the epididymis. Epididymo-orchitis is characterized by an enlarged epididymis and/or testis with inhomogeneous echogenicity (hypoechoic – hyperechoic). Color Doppler sonography shows increased vascularity in comparison with the unaffected testis. Spectral Doppler reveals increased diastolic flow velocities and a decreased resistance index. Idiopathic scrotal edema and an incarcerated inguinal hernia must be ruled out in the differential diagnosis.

Correlation Between Transabdominal Chorionic Villus Sampling and Fetal Distress With Color Doppler Sonography

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is an invasive method for identifying genetic and metabolic diseases, which is done in the first trimester of pregnancy and can cause many complications. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the correlation between Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling and fetal distress in color Doppler sonography. This study is experimental (before and after). All pregnant women with minor thalassemia in which their husbands were suffering from minor thalassemia or have a history of a child with major thalassemia and after the 12th week of pregnancy were referred to the ultrasound department. RI for fetal Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) and Umbilical Artery (UA) before and after of CVS were measured and then statistically analyzed using SPSS 22. CVS did not cause a significant increase in RI for the fetal middle cerebral artery (P>0.05). CVS did cause a significant increase in RI for the umbilical artery (P<0.05). Then, CVS did cause a significant decrease in the ratio of RI for fetal Middle Cerebral Artery to RI for Umbilical Artery (P<0.05). Based on these results, it seems that CVS can cause distress in the fetus.

B-Flow Sonography vs. Color Doppler Sonography for the Assessment of Vascularity in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation

Objective To compare B-flow sonography (BFS) with color Doppler sonography (CDS) for imaging of kidney transplant vascularization in children. Patients and Methods All children receiving a kidney transplantation who underwent a protocol-based ultrasound examination (Loqiq 9, GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA) using the BFS and CDS technique with equal settings and probe position between January 2013 and January 2016 were retrospectively assessed (n = 40). The obtained datasets were visually graded according to the following criteria: (I) delineation of the renal vascular tree (Grade 1 – clear demarcation of interlobar, together with arcuate and interlobular vessels; Grade 2 – clear demarcation of interlobar and cortical vessels, but no distinction of interlobular from arcuate vessels; Grade 3 – only clear demarcation of interlobar vessels, Grade 4 – insufficient demarcation) (II) delineation of cortical vessel density in ventral, lateral, and dorsal part of the transplant, (III) smallest vessel-capsule distance, and (IV) maximum cortical vessel count. Comparison between methods was performed using Fisher’s exact and paired sample t-tests. Results Applying a curved transducer (C1–6), BFS showed superior delineation of the renal vascular tree (p < 0.001), a lower vessel-capsule distance (p < 0.001), a higher cortical vessel count (p < 0.001), and a higher cortical vessel density in the superficial cortex (p = 0.01) than CDS. In the dorsal and lateral aspects of the transplant, cortical vessel density was lower with BFS (both p < 0.001). Using a linear high-resolution transducer (ML 6–15), no significant differences between the methods were found. Conclusion Improved imaging of kidney transplant vascularization can be achieved in children by adding BFS to a standard protocol. The BFS technique is especially beneficial for overall assessment of the renal vascular tree together with the extent of cortical vascularization on curved array images. Key points: Citation Format

Role of duplex ultrasonography in patients with renal parenchymal disease: renal resistive index vs serum creatinine level

Background: In view of the fact that Brightness (B)-mode ultrasound findings in patients with renal parenchymal disease are profoundly non-specific, this study was carried out to determine the efficiency of color Doppler sonography for assessing renal function. In this series, the relationship between the resistive index (RI) of renal interlobar artery and serum creatinine level was analyzed for any relevant association of this color Doppler index with the serum creatinine level.Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 40 patients with renal parenchymal disease having serum creatinine level >1.4 mg/dL were chosen midst routine revisits. The control group comprised of 40 normal subjects with serum creatinine levels <1.4 mg/dL. After assessing the kidneys of these subjects with gray-scale ultrasound for presence of any stones, hydronephrosis, and/or space occupying lesions instead of, they were subsequently interrogated with color Doppler sonography and RI calculated.Results: The mean serum creatinine levels±SD in the case and control groups were 6.7±0.7 mg/dL and 1.0±0.4 mg/dL, respectively. The mean±SD resistive index (RI) was 79.0%±1.8% in the diseased group and 60.3%±0.7% in the healthy subjects (p<0.001). The correlation between the RI and the serum creatinine level was statistically significant (p<0.001).Conclusions: Resistive index (RI) measurement by color doppler ultrasonography is a reasonable prognosticator of functional outcome in patients with renal parenchymal disease.