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Home / Ultrasound on Testicles and Docti Wants You to Come in Person to Read Results

Ultrasound on Testicles and Docti Wants You to Come in Person to Read Results

Ultrasound - Scrotum

Ultrasound imaging of the scrotum uses sound waves to produce pictures of a male's testicles and surrounding tissues. It is the chief method used to help evaluate disorders of the testicles, epididymis (tubes immediately next to the testicles that collect sperm) and scrotum. Ultrasound is safety, noninvasive, and does not utilise ionizing radiation.

This procedure requires little to no special training. Leave jewelry at dwelling and wear loose, comfortable vesture. Yous may be asked to wearable a gown.

  • What is Ultrasound Imaging of the Scrotum?
  • What are some mutual uses of the procedure?
  • How should I prepare?
  • What does the equipment look like?
  • How does the procedure work?
  • How is the procedure performed?
  • What will I experience during and later on the procedure?
  • Who interprets the results and how practice I get them?
  • What are the benefits vs. risks?
  • What are the limitations of Scrotal Ultrasound Imaging?

What is Ultrasound Imaging of the Scrotum?

Ultrasound imaging of the scrotum provides pictures of a male's testicles and the surrounding tissues.

Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. It is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the torso using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is too called sonography. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the trunk. The probe collects the sounds that bounciness dorsum. A computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound exams do not utilise radiation (x-rays). Because ultrasound captures images in existent-time, information technology can prove the structure and movement of the torso's internal organs. The images can also show blood flowing through blood vessels.

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What are some mutual uses of the process?

Ultrasound imaging of the scrotum is the main imaging method used to evaluate disorders of the testicles, epididymis (tubes immediately next to the testicles that collect sperm made by the testicle) and scrotum.

This study is typically used to:

  • make up one's mind whether a mass in the scrotum felt past the patient or dr. is cystic or solid and its location.
  • diagnose results of trauma to the scrotal area.
  • diagnose causes of testicular pain or swelling such as inflammation or torsion.
  • evaluate the cause of infertility such every bit varicocele.
  • await for the location of undescended testis.

A sudden onset of pain in the scrotum should be taken very seriously. A common cause of scrotal pain is epididymitis, an inflammation of the epididymis. It is treatable with antibiotics. If left untreated, this condition can pb to an abscess or loss of blood catamenia to the testicles.

Ultrasound can often discover an absent or undescended testicle likewise. It is estimated that approximately 3 percent of full-term baby boys have an undescended testicle. The testicle normally migrates from the abdomen down a brusque passage called the inguinal canal and then into the usual position in the scrotal sac before birth. If not present in the scrotal sac, the testicle may have stopped in the inguinal region, in which instance the ultrasound test will ofttimes see it. If the testicle has non left the abdominal cavity, it may not be seen by sonography. If a testicle is non detected, a urologist may be consulted in order to decide whether boosted imaging such every bit an MRI is needed to make up one's mind its location. If the testicle is found to be in the inguinal region, it may be moved into the scrotum. If left in the belly besides long, the testicle may become cancerous and may demand to be removed.

Ultrasound tin place testicular torsion, the twisting of the spermatic string that contains the vessels that supply blood to the testicle. Testicular torsion is caused by abnormally loose attachments of tissues that are formed during fetal development. Torsion commonly appears during adolescence, and less oft in the neonatal menstruum, and is very painful. Torsion requires immediate surgery to avoid permanent damage to the testicle.

Ultrasound also can be used to locate and evaluate masses (lumps or tumors) in the testicle or elsewhere in the scrotum. Collections of fluid and abnormalities of the blood vessels may appear every bit masses and can exist assessed past ultrasound. Masses both outside and within the testicles may be benign or malignant and should exist evaluated equally before long as they are detected.

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How should I prepare?

Wear comfy, loose-plumbing fixtures clothing. You may need to remove all wearable and jewelry in the area to exist examined.

You may demand to change into a gown for the procedure.

No other training is required.

If your son is undergoing the examination, explain the procedure to him. In about cases, y'all will be able to accompany him into the test room for support and reassurance.

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What does the equipment look like?

Ultrasound machines consist of a figurer console, video monitor and an attached transducer. The transducer is a pocket-sized manus-held device that resembles a microphone. Some exams may use different transducers (with dissimilar capabilities) during a single exam. The transducer sends out inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into the body and listens for the returning echoes. The same principles apply to sonar used by boats and submarines.

The technologist applies a minor corporeality of gel to the area nether exam and places the transducer there. The gel allows audio waves to travel back and forth betwixt the transducer and the area under test. The ultrasound image is immediately visible on a video monitor. The computer creates the image based on the loudness (amplitude), pitch (frequency), and time it takes for the ultrasound signal to render to the transducer. Information technology also considers what type of body construction and/or tissue the sound is traveling through.

In lodge to perform a scrotal sonogram, most usually a linear small parts transducer is used.

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How does the procedure work?

Ultrasound imaging uses the same principles as the sonar that bats, ships, and fishermen apply. When a sound moving ridge strikes an object, it bounces back or echoes. Past measuring these echo waves, it is possible to determine how far abroad the object is as well as its size, shape, and consistency. This includes whether the object is solid or filled with fluid.

Doctors use ultrasound to find changes in the appearance of organs, tissues, and vessels and to observe aberrant masses, such as tumors.

In an ultrasound exam, a transducer both sends the sound waves and records the echoing (returning) waves. When the transducer is pressed against the peel, it sends small pulses of inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into the torso. As the sound waves bounce off internal organs, fluids and tissues, the sensitive receiver in the transducer records tiny changes in the sound's pitch and direction. A calculator instantly measures these signature waves and displays them every bit real-time pictures on a monitor. The technologist typically captures ane or more frames of the moving pictures as still images. They may also save short video loops of the images.

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How is the process performed?

For most ultrasound exams, you will lie face-upward on an exam table that tin can be tilted or moved. Patients may plough to either side to improve the quality of the images.

The radiologist (a doc specifically trained to supervise and translate radiology exams) or sonographer volition position y'all on the exam tabular array. They will apply a water-based gel to the area of the body under exam. The gel will assist the transducer make secure contact with the body. Information technology likewise eliminates air pockets betwixt the transducer and the skin that tin can cake the sound waves from passing into your body. The sonographer places the transducer on the body and moves it dorsum and forth over the area of interest until it captures the desired images.

There is unremarkably no discomfort from force per unit area as they printing the transducer against the area being examined. All the same, if the area is tender, you may feel force per unit area or minor pain from the transducer.

Once the imaging is complete, the technologist will wipe off the clear ultrasound gel from your pare. Any portions that remain will dry quickly. The ultrasound gel does non usually stain or discolor clothing.

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What will I experience during and after the procedure?

Well-nigh ultrasound exams are painless, fast, and hands tolerated.

Ultrasound imaging of the scrotum is usually completed within xv to xxx minutes, though sometimes more time is necessary.

If y'all are accompanying your son during the procedure, ask him to lie still and so the sound waves can produce the proper images.

Babies undergoing the examination might cry, just this should not interfere with the procedure.

When the exam is complete, the technologist may ask you to dress and look while they review the ultrasound images.

Later on an ultrasound exam, you should be able to resume your normal activities immediately.

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Who interprets the results and how do I get them?

A radiologist, a doctor trained to supervise and translate radiology exams, will clarify the images. The radiologist will send a signed written report to the doctor who requested the examination. Your medico will then share the results with you lot. In some cases, the radiologist may discuss results with yous after the exam.

You may demand a follow-upwards exam. If so, your doctor will explain why. Sometimes a follow-upward test further evaluates a potential issue with more views or a special imaging technique. It may also run into if there has been whatever change in an issue over time. Follow-upwards exams are oft the best way to come across if treatment is working or if a problem needs attention.

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What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits

  • Most ultrasound scanning is noninvasive (no needles or injections).
  • Occasionally, an ultrasound exam may be temporarily uncomfortable, but it should not be painful.
  • Ultrasound is widely available, easy to use, and less expensive than nearly other imaging methods.
  • Ultrasound imaging is extremely safe and does not use radiations.
  • Ultrasound scanning gives a articulate motion-picture show of soft tissues that do non show upward well on ten-ray images.
  • Ultrasound provides real-fourth dimension imaging. This makes information technology a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and fluid aspiration.

Risks

  • Standard diagnostic ultrasound has no known harmful effects on humans.

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What are the limitations of Scrotal Ultrasound Imaging?

Ultrasound of the scrotum is helpful for finding abnormalities such as masses in the scrotum or testicles. However, information technology does not e'er permit an exact diagnosis (i.eastward., the exact type of tissue a mass is composed of, especially when the mass is solid). Blood flow images of the testicles are non ever reliable in determining the presence or absence of blood supply to a testicle that has twisted. When searching for an absent testicle, ultrasound may not be able to find it if information technology is located in the abdomen considering gas filled bowel loops may block the view.

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This page was reviewed on April, 21, 2020

Images

Radiologist and patient consultation. View total size with caption

Pediatric Content

Some imaging tests and treatments have special pediatric considerations. The teddy acquit denotes child-specific content.

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