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. 2022 Jan 25;3(4):287-290.
doi: 10.1002/bco2.138. eCollection 2022 Jul.

The role of a urine dipstick in the diagnosis of the acute scrotum

Sophie Tissot  1 , Christopher Perrott  1   2 , Richard Grills  1   2
Affiliations

The role of a urine dipstick in the diagnosis of the acute scrotum

Sophie Tissot et al. BJUI Compass. .

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the role of a urine dipstick in the assessment of acute scrotal pain emergency department presentations.

Methods: A single institution, prospective case series, from February 2020 to February 2021. All patients who received a bedside review by a urology doctor for acute scrotal pain were included. Urine dipstick results were pre-defined as having had an impact on the emergency clinician's diagnosis if it showed pyuria and/or nitrituria and the final diagnosis was epididymitis-orchitis or haematuria and the final diagnosis was ureterolithiasis.

Results: 139 patients presented to the emergency department with a complaint of acute scrotal pain. 85 (61%) were referred for bedside urology review. Median age of 17 years (P25 12 yrs, P75 31 yrs). 2.3% (n = 2) had proven testicular torsion, 28.5% (n = 24) had epididymitis-orchitis and 8.2% (n = 7) had ureterolithiasis. 68 (80%) of patients received a primary diagnosis of testicular torsion by the emergency department clinician. Following review by a urology unit doctor, 14 proceeded to scrotal exploration for concern of testicular torsion. 7 patients were diagnosed with ureterolithiasis, all of whom had haematuria on their urine dipsticks (100%, 95% CI: 59-100%), 100% of these urine dipsticks were initiated by the urology unit doctor following bedside review. 22 patients were diagnosed with epididymitis-orchitis. 8 of these had pyuria, nitrituria and/or haematuria on their urine dipstick (36%, 95% CI: 17-59%) and only one urine dipstick was completed prior to referral. 20.6% of patients perceived to have testicular torsion by the emergency department had a positive urine dipstick that aligned with their final alternative diagnosis (95% CI: 12-32%).

Conclusion: A collection of clinical findings is required to diagnose the aetiology of acute scrotal pain. Information that can be easily, quickly, cheaply, and reliably collected, such as a urine dipstick, can assist in clinical decision making.

Keywords: diagnosis; dipstick; haematuria; pyuria; scrotum; torsion.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Urine dipstick in possible testicular torsion
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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