[The radionuclide diagnosis of posttraumatic complications in the testes]

Testicular trauma is not uncommon. Apart from accidental trauma it may deliberately be inflicted during fight by striking blows in the scrotal area. The most common posttraumatic complications are hematoma, hydrocele and hematocele, orchiepididymitis and occasionally malignant degeneration of the injured testis. Unless diagnosed and treated in time, these complications lead to hypoplasia and atrophy of the testes, the far-reaching result being sterility. Fifteen patients 17 to 40 years of age, undergone testicular trauma, comprise the study group. In 8 patients no changes were recorded. In the other group of 7 patients 1 had hematoma, 4 hydrocele, 1 orchiepididymitis and 1 (six months after the trauma)--tumor of the testis--teratocarcinoma. It is concluded that gamma-camera scintigraphy of the testis is a quick and exact method, which furnishes ample information on the complications following testicular trauma thus tracing a correct approach to treatment.