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Updated: May 12, 2026
08:49
Murine Prostate Micro-dissection and Surgical Castration
Published on: May 11, 2016
Methamphetamine use can mimic testicular torsion.
Michael H Doherty1, Eugenio O Gerscovich, Michael T Corwin
1University of California, Davis School of Medicine, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3100, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Journal of Clinical Ultrasound : JCU
|April 23, 2013
Summary
Methamphetamine use can cause testicular ischemia, mimicking testicular torsion. This case highlights the importance of considering drug-induced conditions in scrotal emergencies.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Toxicology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and intervention.
- Clinical presentation and ultrasound are key diagnostic tools, but can sometimes be misleading.
- Methamphetamine (a type of amphetamine) is known to cause ischemia in various organs.
Observation:
- A patient presented with symptoms classic for testicular torsion.
- Ultrasound suggested testicular ischemia, but spermatic cord torsion was not visualized.
- Surgical exploration revealed no evidence of torsion.
Findings:
- Postoperative review identified methamphetamine use as a potential cause of the patient's symptoms.
- Methamphetamine-induced testicular ischemia can mimic the clinical presentation of testicular torsion.
- This is the first reported case of amphetamine-induced testicular ischemia presenting as a testicular torsion mimic.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider drug-induced testicular ischemia in patients presenting with acute scrotal pain, especially when torsion is not definitively visualized.
- Urine toxicology screening may be valuable in evaluating patients with unexplained testicular ischemia.
- This finding expands the differential diagnosis for acute scrotum, emphasizing the systemic effects of recreational drug use.
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