The value of scrotal ultrasound in patients with suspected testicular tumour.

A prospective study was designed to assess the value of scrotal ultrasound in the diagnosis of testicular neoplasm. Comparison of findings yielded by ultrasound with those made on surgical exploration of the scrotal contents in 56 patients showed a sensitivity of 94.6%, specificity of 57.9% and an overall accuracy of ultrasound of 82.1%. While capable of distinguishing intra- from extratesticular structure, scrotal ultrasound is not specific enough to differentiate a tumour from benign diseases involving testicular parenchyma. Still, it may add new information to the clinical examination of the scrotum, and reduce the number of probatory surgical procedures in patients with the finding of an intrascrotal mass. This paper describes the ultrasound pictures of a normal testis, testicular tumours and extratesticular disease that are most often considered in the differential diagnosis of testicular tumours.