The ultrasound investigation of scrotal swelling

The objectives of this study were to: (1) establish the causes of scrotal s welling in the hospital catchment population; (2) define the role of high f requency ultrasound examination in the management of scrotal swelling. A retrospective study of 582 patients who had high frequency ultrasound exa mination was carried out. Those requiring more information on perfusion had colour doppler examination. Forty-four per cent of examinations were Perfo rmed for scrotal swelling. The cause of the scrotal swelling was mainly ext ratesticular (75% of all scrotal swellings), hydrocele being the commonest. Of the intratesticular causes, infection (50.8%) and tumour (20.6%) were t he commonest. In conclusion ultrasound examination distinguishes extratesticular (almost always benign) from intratesticular (potentially malignant) causes of scrot al swelling. infection, trauma and torsion mimic the ultrasound appearance of tumour as do rare benign entities.