Experience in scrotal doppler ultrasound in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Abstract

Background: Scrotal diseases can be diagnosed with clinical examination or radiological imaging. The use of ultrasound with Doppler application has several advantages in the evaluation of this sensitive and private organ.
Objectives: To document the pattern of Doppler ultrasound findings in patients presenting with scrotal symptoms.
Design: A retrospective descriptive study.
Setting: The Vascular Imaging Unit, Radiology department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo, Nigeria.
Subjects: The Doppler scan results and stored images of 95 patients who had complaints related to the scrotum were retrieved and analyzed. Only cases that were agreed upon by the researchers were included in this study. All the Doppler scans were performed by either one or all researchers.
Results: The mean age of the study population was 37.96±1.43 years while scrotal swelling 31 (26.4%) was the commonest indication. Others were scrotal pain 30 (25.4%), varicocoele 20 (16.9%), infertility 13 (11.0%), etc. Scrotal Doppler ultrasound findings were hydrocoele 43 (35.5%), epididymo-orchitis 30 (24.6%), varicocoele 20 (16.4%), Orchitis 7 (5.7%), epididymal cyst 7 (5.7%). Hydrocoele was the commonest findings in those that presented infertility.
Conclusion: In conclusion, Doppler ultrasonography of the scrotum can be performed for scrotal diseases which often present with non-specific symptoms. Hence with it, diagnosis can be made between the different scrotal disease entities which will improve the treatment of such patients.

Keywords: Doppler, ultrasound, scrotum.