Imaging of the scrotum: role of MRI L'imaging dello scroto: ruolo della RM

Abstract Purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate theusefulness of imaging for correct clinical and therapeuticmanagement of patients with scrotal disease. Materials and methods. Between 2000 and 2007, 801patients with suspected scrotal disease underwent colourDoppler ultrasonography (CDUS) at our centre. In 46patients, the CDUS study was followed by magneticresonance imaging (MRI). Results. CDUS revealed an inflammatory process in 277patients (34.58%), testicular trauma in 112 (13.9%),funicular torsion or torsion of the vestigial remnant in 44(5.4%), findings suggestive of testicular neoplasm in 35(4.3%) and no abnormality in 41.5%. MRI, used to furtherinvestigate the CDUS findings in 46 cases, showed threecases of intraparenchymal haematoma, one of intrascrotalcavernous body rupture, one of testicular abscess withintrascrotal fistula, two of testicular infarction and 15 ofneoplasm. MRI allowed the exclusion of focalabnormalities in ten patients with testicular microlithiasis,in three with chronic orchitis and in four with atrophicinvolution. MRI confirmed the finding of inguinal herniain three cases.