Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 60. No. 1., 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2021.60.01.06
The Role of Ultrasound Elastography in the Diagnosis of Pathologic Conditions of Testicles and Scrotum
Miroslav Muršić
; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivica Sjekavica
; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Šimunović
; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
Davor Ježek
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Transfusion Medicine and Transplantation Biology, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Several years ago, elastography emerged as a potentially very useful ultrasound
technique that is currently used in diagnostic workup of the breast, liver and some other organ systems,
whereas for other ones it is still mainly in the phase of research. The aim of the study was to compare
elasticity index (EI) of testicles using strain elastography in healthy subjects and those with pathologic
changes of testicles/scrotum. A total of 117 patients were included in the study. Measurements
were performed on a Logiq E9 ultrasound system using strain elastography. In healthy subjects, the
mean EI value was 1.34±0.35 for right testis and 1.49±0.47 for left testis. Increased mean EI values
were found in the following six conditions: patients with varicocele, infertile patients, solitary testis
after orchidectomy of the other testicle because of tumor, patients with testicular tumors, patients after
orchidopexy of undescended testicle, and patients with congenitally smaller testicle. There is a paucity
of literature data on the use of elastography in testes, as well as on normal elastography values in testicular
tissue. Strain elastography was demonstrated to be a valuable method to acquire additional
information in patients with pathologic changes in testicles/scrotum. These data provide reference
values for further research in a larger sample of subjects.
Keywords
Ultrasound elastography; Testis; Scrotum; Varicocele; Infertility; Testicular neoplasm
Hrčak ID:
259823
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2021.
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