SCROTAL US IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS - COMPARISON OF POWER AND STANDARD COLOR DOPPLER US

PURPOSE: To compare power Doppler ultrasonography (US) with standard c olor Doppler US in the evaluation of testicular and epididymal blood f low in children.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular and epididymal flow were analyzed retrospectively in 24 testes in 12 prepubertal boys (mea n age, 4 years) and 49 testes in 25 postpubertal boys (mean age, 14 ye ars) with color and power Doppler US. Absence of testicular abnormalit y was based on clinical follow-up or scintigraphy. RESULTS: Power Dopp ler US depicted flow in 22 of 24 prepubertal testes and in all 49 post pubertal testes. Color Doppler US depicted flow in 20 prepubertal test es and in all 49 postpubertal testes. Flow was detected in five and th ree postpubertal epididymides with power and color Doppler US, respect ively. A greater mean number of vessels per 1 cm(2) of testicular pare nchyma were detected with power than with color Doppler US in pre- and postpubertal testes. CONCLUSION: Power Doppler US improves depiction of intratesticular vessels, but flow cannot be identified in all prepu bertal testes. Detection of epididymal flow is infrequent in postpuber tal patients but appears comparable with both techniques.