Emergency ultrasonography in the evaluation of the acute scrotum

Acute scrotal pain accounts for approximately 0.5% of total emergency department (ED) visits. Despite this relatively low percentage, these patients can present a considerable challenge to the treating emergency physician (EP) since the etiologies of acute scrotal pain range from organ-threatening disease to minor idiopathic pain. Few data exist on EP use of bedside ultrasound to evaluate scrotal pain, but there is some suggestion that this may represent a beneficial future application for emergency ultrasonographers. This paper briefly describes the technology and technique involved with the performance of testicular ultrasound examination and briefly discusses its potential application at bedside in the ED.