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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) Exam: Image Acquisition
Published on: September 22, 2023
[Sonography of the scrotal contents]
J Haller1, N Gritzmann, G Sommer
1Ludwig Boltzmann-Institut für radiologisch-physikalische Tumordiagnostik, I. Med. Univ.-Klinik, Wien.
Abstract:
In 394 patients with various urological symptoms, the content of the scrotum was examined sonographically. 71 testicular lesions were found, 194 extratesticular pathologies were diagnosed. In 69% the enlargement of the testicle was due to a tumor, in 4 patients due to acute orchitis and in 3 patients due to acute torsion. An unilateral smaller sized testicle was found in chronic inflammation [5], cryptorchism [9], hypoplastic testicle [2] and after corticoid medication [1] and radiation therapy [1]. In normal sized testicles 8 tumors, 19 fibromas of the tunica albuginea, 2 scars after trauma and 1 haematoma were found sonographically. In 91% of patients with epididymitis the epididymis was enlarged. The echo structure was altered in 74%, in 13% abscesses were found. Sonography was useful in evaluation of scrotal herniation, especially when combined with hydroceles. Varicoceles were better detected and graduated by sonography than by clinical examination.
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