Evaluation of scrotal pathology: an observational study

Abstract

Background: Scrotal issues often prompt patients to seek evaluation through physical examinations and scrotal ultrasonography. Accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive exploration of potential conditions, with both grayscale ultrasonography (USG) and duplex Color Doppler ultrasonography employed for assessment. Methods: This prospective observational study, conducted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh from July 2004 to June 2005, aimed to compare the effectiveness of grayscale ultrasonography and duplex color Doppler ultrasonography in evaluating scrotal pathology. Fifty-two patients with intra-scrotal disease were included using purposive sampling. Grayscale USG and duplex color Doppler ultrasonography were performed, and demographic and clinical data were processed using MS Excel and SPSS version 23.0. Results: Grayscale ultrasonography identified hydrocele, varicocele, and epididymitis in 21%, 15%, and 13.5% of cases, respectively. Color Doppler imaging revealed various pathologies, with varicocele and hydrocele most common (21.20%). Diagnostic accuracy varied between the two techniques, with Color Doppler excelling in specific conditions such as testicular torsion (100% accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity). Overall, Color Doppler demonstrated superior accuracy (96.10%) compared to grayscale (80%). Conclusions: While both grayscale ultrasonography and duplex Color Doppler ultrasonography are valuable tools for evaluating scrotal pathology, the latter demonstrates superiority in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Color Doppler's effectiveness in diagnosing specific conditions suggests its preference for comprehensive scrotal assessments.