Scrotal gray-scale and color Doppler sonographic findings in genitourinary brucellosis

Brucellosis is an enzootic disease that is frequently transmitted from Brucella-infected animals and their products to humans through the gastrointestinal tract. Genitourinary complications are seen in 2-10% of cases. We used sonography to investigate such complications in patients from a Brucella-endemic area.

Between 1992 and 1996, 246 patients were clinically and serologically diagnosed as having brucellosis and were examined by sonography.

Genitourinary complications were identified by sonography in 26 patients. Fifteen of these patients had unilateral epididymo-orchitis, 6 had diffuse orchitis, and 5 had a focal hypoechoic testicular lesion. An increase in the vascularity of the lesions was seen in the 14 patients who also underwent color Doppler examination. Spectral waveform analysis showed a decrease in the resistance index in 9 patients. After medical treatment, all but 1 of the lesions disappeared within 2 months; the last lesion persisted for 6 months.

In areas in which brucellosis is endemic, when scrotal abnormalities are seen with gray-scale or color Doppler sonography, the possibility of genitourinary tract complications of brucellosis should be considered. Simple Brucella tests may prevent unnecessary surgery.