[Diagnostic Imaging in Cases of Acute Scrotum]

Abstract

Acute scrotum is one of the most common urologic emergencies in children and adolescents. This condition involves acute testicular pain, which is often accompanied by scrotal swelling and erythema. It is most important to distinguish between cases that require immediate surgery and those that can be treated conservatively. As patient history and physical findings may not always be unequivocal, ultrasound with Colour-Coded Doppler Sonography is the imaging modality of choice for further evaluation. Testicular torsion and other differential diagnoses such as epididymitis, appendiceal torsion, intratesticular haematoma after trauma, or complicated inguinal hernia have to be considered. Other imaging modalities such as MRI, scintigraphy and contrast-enhanced ultrasound are only necessary if the diagnosis remains unclear or if complications occur during the course of disease.