Differential epididymal enlargement and identification of the mediastinum testes: New proposed sonographic checklist in the acute assessment of pediatric testicular torsion.

BACKGROUND

Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency. We have observed that mass-like epididymal enlargement and morphologic changes to the testicular parenchyma differentially represent testes that are viable versus non-viable at the time of scrotal exploration.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to assess sonographic findings that may help predict the viability of torsed testes at the time of scrotal exploration.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 128 scrotal ultrasound exams of surgically confirmed testicular torsions (88 salvageable, 40 non-salvageable) from July 2022 to July 2023 (mean age 13.1 years, range: 1-19 years). We assessed the visibility of the mediastinum testis, the ratio between affected and non-affected testes of the maximal cross-sectional area of the epididymis on a transverse plane, the ratio between affected and non-affected testes of the testicular volume, and subjective evidence of mass-like epididymal enlargement.

RESULTS

Patients with global epididymal enlargement and those with a non-visible mediastinum testis were found to have a statistically higher likelihood of non-salvageable testes (p = 0.0123 and p = 0.0208, respectively). Additionally, a significant association was observed between testicular volume symmetry and the viability of torsed testes (p = 0.0013). Notably, when the volume of the torsed testis exceeded that of the normal contralateral testis by 40 %, it was significantly associated with a non-salvageable outcome (p = 0.0132).

CONCLUSION

Sonographically visible mediastinum testis, absence of epididymal tail enlargement, and similar volume between affected and non-affected testes are potential positive predictors of the viability of the pediatric torsed testes found during emergent testicular salvage surgery. In contrast, the absence of these predictors suggests a non-salvageable testis.