Scrotal sonographic findings in equestrians

Abstract

Objective: Sports-related injuries are among the major causes of testicular trauma. In this study, we aimed to determine sonographically whether chronic urogenital trauma during horse riding increases the prevalence of scrotal sonographic abnormalities. To our knowledge, there are no studies in the literature that have focused on this topic.

Methods: Group 1 included 26 male riders with a mean age +/- SD of 31 +/- 2.9 (range, 26-38) years and with a mean riding experience of 5 +/- 2.6 (range, 1-10) years, whereas group 2 included 26 healthy nonriding men with a mean age of 31 +/- 3.2 (range, 26-41) years. After the clinical evaluation, all patients underwent scrotal sonographic examination.

Results: The prevalence of overall scrotal sonographic abnormalities in group 1 was significantly higher than that in group 2 (77% versus 38%; P < .05). The detected sonographic findings in group 1 were varicocele (46%), hydrocele (19%), testicular cyst (4%), epididymal cyst (35%), testicular calcification (19%), epididymal calcification (8%), scrotal calculus (8%), and inhomogeneity of parenchymal echo texture (4%). However, only varicocele (19%), epididymal cyst (19%), testicular calcification (12%), and scrotal calculus (4%) were detected in group 2. Between the 2 groups, the difference was significant for varicocele prevalence (P < .05) and marginally significant for hydrocele prevalence (P = .051).

Conclusions: We recommend scrotal sonographic examination of equestrians when they have a palpable mass or related symptoms, the etiology of which was found in our study to be closely related to horse riding.