Testicular scanning: clinical experience with 72 patients

Testicular scanning with 99mtechnetium pertechnetate is a well established, useful and readily available technique for the rapid assessment of patients with scrotal pain. Its use allows accurate differentiation of testicular torsion from other entities, such as epididymo-orchitis and, thus, obviates scrotal exploration in a large number of cases. We herein report our experience with 72 cases. Only 1 falsely positive scan was obtained in 15 patients thought to have torsion, this being secondary to an incarcerated hernia extending into the scrotum. Of the remaining 14 patients undergoing scrotal explorations for testicular torsion the scan was accurate in 100 per cent of the cases.