Rigi10™ Malleable Penile Prosthesis
Also Known As
Testicular ultrasound, Testicular sonogram, Scrotal sonography, Scrotal sonogram, Testicular echography, Scrotal echography
Definition
Scrotal ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce detailed images of the testicles and surrounding tissues within the scrotum.1 It is the ideal imaging modality for evaluation of scrotal abnormalities, capable of differentiating the most important etiologies of acute scrotal pain and swelling, including epididymitis and testicular torsion.2 The procedure involves applying a clear gel to the scrotum and using a handheld transducer that both emits sound waves and detects their echoes as they bounce off scrotal structures.3 These echoes are converted into electrical signals, which a computer transforms into real-time images displayed on a monitor.4 Scrotal ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation, making it a safe procedure for examining testicular and scrotal pathology while providing fine anatomical details and evaluating vascular perfusion simultaneously.2
Clinical Context
Scrotal ultrasound is used clinically to evaluate a wide range of testicular and scrotal conditions.1 It is the primary imaging method for diagnosing acute scrotal pain, which may result from testicular torsion (requiring immediate surgical intervention), epididymitis, or orchitis.2 The procedure is essential for determining whether a mass in the scrotum felt by the patient or doctor is cystic or solid and its precise location.3
Healthcare providers recommend scrotal ultrasound to diagnose results of trauma to the scrotal area, evaluate the cause of testicular pain or swelling, assess infertility causes such as varicocele, and locate undescended testicles.3 It can identify testicular torsion, the twisting of the spermatic cord that contains vessels supplying blood to the testicle, which requires immediate surgery to avoid permanent damage.4
Additionally, scrotal ultrasound is valuable for evaluating masses (lumps or tumors) in the testicle or elsewhere in the scrotum, which may be benign or malignant.1 The procedure can help determine why one or both testicles have become larger or smaller, examine a mass or lump in one or both testicles, find the reason for pain in the testicles, and show how blood flows through the testicles.5 Patient selection criteria include those with acute scrotal pain, scrotal swelling, palpable abnormalities, history of trauma, or as part of infertility workup.2