Color Doppler sonography in acute epididymitis and orchitis

Clinical diagnosis of patients with acute scrotal pain is frequently imperfect. Imaging, using nuclear medicine scintigraphy and hand-held continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound devices, has been used in these patients. We retrospectively analyzed 28 consecutive patients referred for scrotal sonography, all of whom had been imaged using color Doppler sonography. Of 22 patients with confirmed diagnoses, 11 had acute epididymitis/orchitis and 11 had another diagnosis. Ten of 11 patients with acute epididymitis/orchitis had increased epididymal flow. Eight also had increased testicular flow. None of the 11 patients without acute epididymitis/orchitis had increased flow. Our data suggest that color Doppler sonography may be useful in establishing the diagnosis of acute epididymitis/orchitis. This might decrease the need for scrotal exploration. No distinction could be made among scrotal lesions in the nonacute epididymitis/orchitis group. Sensitivity was inadequate to reliably detect flow in normal testicles, a prerequisite to accurately diagnose torsion. Newly improved sensitivity may enhance the utility of color Doppler sonography in assessing patients with acute scrotal pathology.