DYNAMIC MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE CONTRALATERAL TESTIS IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT-TUMOR OF THE TESTIS

Objectives. Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was tested using a dynamic technique to evaluate the possibility of differentiating bet ween normal contralateral testes and testes with a carcinoma in situ. Methods. Since March 1990, 20 volunteers and 21 patients with a malign ant tumor of the testis were examined in a field strength of 1.5 Tesla (Philips Gyroscan S15) with a multislice T-1-weighted fast field echo sequence before and every 63 seconds after the injection of 0.1 mmol/ kg gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid. Results. Significan t differences (p < 0.001) in signal changes of contralateral testes we re detected in dynamic MRI. This increased signal enhancement is detec ted even 45 months after orchiectomy in the contralateral testes. The signal increase is reduced in follow-up controls. These observations a re explained by an increased perfusion which seems to be induced after a postoperative irritation, an unspecific inflammation, or postoperat ive bleeding. Conclusions. To avoid false-positive diagnoses of tumors or carcinomata in situ in contralateral testes, these increased enhan cements caused by postoperative reactions have to be kept in mind.