Radiology, Vol 199, 441-446, Copyright © 1996 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Acute testicular torsion: comparison of unenhanced and contrast- enhanced power Doppler US, color Doppler US, and radionuclide imaging

BD Coley, DP Frush, DS Babcock, SM O'Hara, AG Lewis, MJ Gelfand, KE Bove and CA Sheldon
Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

PURPOSE: To compare the usefulness of conventional color Doppler ultrasound (US), unenhanced and contrast material-enhanced power Doppler US, and radionuclide imaging in a model of acute testicular torsion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty rabbits underwent unilateral 360 degree testis torsion and contralateral orchiopexy. Gray-scale, color Doppler, and unenhanced and contrast-enhanced power Doppler US were performed 4-6 hours later. The side of torsion was determined, and intratestis flow was graded. Within 2 hours of US, technetium-99m pertechnetate was intravenously administered, the rabbits were killed, and the testes excised for radionuclide imaging. RESULTS: Intratestis perfusion was detected in 85% of torsed testes at US and radionuclide imaging. The side of torsion was correctly diagnosed in 25% of cases with radionuclide imaging and in 60% of cases with US. Power Doppler US demonstrated significantly greater intratestis flow in pexed than in torsed testes. Although the numbers of correct diagnosis with the three US modalities were similar, flow grades within torsed and normal testes were significantly different. CONCLUSION: Perfusion to torsed and normal testes was demonstrated equally well with color Doppler US, power Doppler US, and radionuclide imaging. Doppler US better depicted differences in intratesticular flow between torsed and normal testes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. R. N. Blask and H. G. Rushton Sonographic appearance of the epididymis in pediatric testicular torsion. Am. J. Roentgenol., December 1, 2006; 187(6): 1627 - 1635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. Paltiel, L. A. Kalish, R. A. Susaeta, F. Frauscher, P. L. O'Kane, and L. G. Freitas-Filho Pulse-Inversion US Imaging of Testicular Ischemia: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses in a Rabbit Model Radiology, June 1, 2006; 239(3): 718 - 729. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D L. Cochlin Acute testicular pain Imaging, October 1, 2005; 17(2): 91 - 100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Abramowicz Ultrasonographic Contrast Media: Has the Time Come in Obstetrics and Gynecology? J. Ultrasound Med., April 1, 2005; 24(4): 517 - 531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Pearce, S Islam, I G McIntyre, and K J O'Flynn Suspected testicular torsion: a survey of clinical practice in North West England J R Soc Med, January 5, 2002; 95(5): 247 - 249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. I. Bluth, J. H. Sunshine, J. B. Lyons, C. A. Beam, L. A. Troxclair, L. Althans-Kopecky, P. E. Crewson, M. A. Sullivan, D. H. Smetherman, P. A. Heidenreich, et al. Power Doppler Imaging: Initial Evaluation as a Screening Examination for Carotid Artery Stenosis Radiology, June 1, 2000; 215(3): 791 - 800. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. A. Baker, D. Sigman, R. I. Mathews, J. Benson, and S. G. Docimo An Analysis of Clinical Outcomes Using Color Doppler Testicular Ultrasound for Testicular Torsion Pediatrics, March 1, 2000; 105(3): 604 - 607. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. R. Townsend, R. A. Cheeawai, R. S. Lee, and J. A. Drose Color Doppler Evaluation of Testicular Torsion with Subsequent Blood Flow After Immediate Manual Detorsion Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, September 1, 1999; 15(5): 197 - 202. [PDF]

				T R Goodman and K McHugh Advances in radiology Arch. Dis. Child., September 1, 1997; 77(3): 265 - 271. [Full Text]