Background: The aim of this study was to determine the color Doppler featur
es of tuberculous epididymitis and to correlate these findings with histopa
thologic findings.
Methods: Color Doppler ultrasound (US) findings of 12 histopathologically p
roven tuberculous epididymitis and tuberculous epididymo-orchitis in 11 con
secutive patients were retrospectively analyzed. Color Doppler US findings
of tuberculous epididymitis were correlated with histopathologic findings.
Results: Color Doppler US findings of tuberculous epididymitis demonstrated
no blood flow in the epididymal lesions except for focal linear or spotty
flow signals in the peripheral portion. These findings correlated well with
pathologic findings; the central portion of the epididymal lesions demonst
rated granulomas with caseation necrosis, and the peripheral portion of the
epididymal lesions had several medium to small vessels.
Conclusions: Color Doppler US may be helpful for differential diagnosis of
tuberculous epididymitis and nontuberculous epididymitis.