PURPOSE: To investigate the utility of the resistive indices (RIs) of the epididymal and intratesticular arteries, and to establish diagnostic criteria for scrotal inflammatory disease on the basis of quantitative color Doppler sonography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively examined 29 consecutive patients with scrotal pain, and 15 normal control subjects. The RIs of the intratesticular and epididymal arteries were obtained from color Doppler sonographs. RESULTS: The RIs of the testicular artery in epididymoorchitis were significantly lower than those in normal control subjects and in epididymitis (p < 0.01) while the RIs of the testicular artery in epididymitis and control subjects were similar (p > 0.5). With a cut-off value of RI = 0.5, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values were 91%, 94%, 94%, 83%, and 77% respectively. The mean RI of the epididymal arteries in epididymitis and epididymoorchitis was 0.49 +/- 0.11. A high level of diagnostic accuracy in scrotal inflammatory disease was achieved when the RIs of the intratesticular and epididymal arteries were less than 0.5 and 0.7 respectively. CONCLUSION: The RI of the intrascrotal artery would give a more objective evaluation than subjective assessment and could provide diagnostic criteria for scrotal inflammatory disease.
PURPOSE: To investigate the utility of the resistive indices (RIs) of the epididymal and intratesticular arteries, and to establish diagnostic criteria for scrotal inflammatory disease on the basis of quantitative color Doppler sonography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively examined 29 consecutive patients with scrotal pain, and 15 normal control subjects. The RIs of the intratesticular and epididymal arteries were obtained from color Doppler sonographs. RESULTS: The RIs of the testicular artery in epididymoorchitis were significantly lower than those in normal control subjects and in epididymitis (p < 0.01) while the RIs of the testicular artery in epididymitis and control subjects were similar (p > 0.5). With a cut-off value of RI = 0.5, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values were 91%, 94%, 94%, 83%, and 77% respectively. The mean RI of the epididymal arteries in epididymitis and epididymoorchitis was 0.49 +/- 0.11. A high level of diagnostic accuracy in scrotal inflammatory disease was achieved when the RIs of the intratesticular and epididymal arteries were less than 0.5 and 0.7 respectively. CONCLUSION: The RI of the intrascrotal artery would give a more objective evaluation than subjective assessment and could provide diagnostic criteria for scrotal inflammatory disease.