MRI for evaluation of scrotal pathology.

Since 1986, 205 patients, age 2-84 years, mean age 33 years, with scrotal pathology were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 1.5-T Siemens Magnetom and specially designed external coils were used for obtaining T1- and T2-weighted images. Of these, 88 patients underwent MRI studies for suspicion of testicular cancer, and 117 for a variety of benign scrotal lesions. MRI studies yielded excellent diagnostic information of scrotal pathology: predictive value for diagnosing testicular cancer was 100% with 62% of correct differentiation between seminoma and non-seminomatous tumors. In future, the incidence of diagnostic surgical explorations of scrotal pathology can be reduced by MRI studies.