[Assessment of the validity of Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of acute scrotum in boys].

PURPOSE: Comparison of preoperative scrotal Doppler sonography and final diagnosis of subsequent exploration in patients with acute scrotum.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the medical history of 61 patients operated on in The Department of Paediatric and Oncological Surgery in Szczecin in 2008-2014.

RESULTS

Mean patient age (years) with testicular torsion was 12.7 ± 4.0, with torsion of a testicular appendage was 8.6 ± 4.5, and with orchitis or epididymitis was 7.2 ± 8.5. During operation we diagnosed testicular torsion in 28 (45%) patients, torsion of the testicular appendage in 26 (43%), and orchitis or epididymitis in 7 (12%). The specificity of Doppler sonography for testicular torsion was 46%, for torsion testicular appendage 20%, and for orchitis/epididymitis 57%.

CONCLUSIONS

Doppler sonography of the scrotum shows limited specificity in the diagnosis of acute scrotum in boys. Surgical exploration is recommended even with apparently normal Doppler sonography examinations.