Evaluation of Pediatric Undescended Testes with Elastosonography

Abstract

BackgroundUndescended testes, which are defined as the failure of testes to descend to scrotum, are the most common developmental defect in male infants. Indirect evaluation of histologic damage can be performed with the help of palpation during operation. Hard texture of testes tissue is likely related with histological damage. Real-time elastography is an emerging technology of ultrasonic imaging of soft tissue strain and elasticity, it aims at providing information regarding the mechanical properties of tissues, such as their hardness or stiffness. This study aim was to investigate the changes in strain and elasticity of testes tissue by using elastography technique. Materials and methodsA total of 32 patients, who had undescended testes were included in this study. Only two patients had bilateral undescended testes, other patients had unilateral. The age of the patients were recorded according to the time of ultrasonographic (USG) examination. The undescended testes was displayed in the elastographic box with the neighbouring subcutaneous fat tissues. The strain ratios were measured as the ratios of the elasticities of the subcutaneous fat tissue to the elasticities of the undescended testes. ResultsA total of 32 patients with 34 testes were included in the study. The mean age of the patients with undescended testes was 32.6 months (range 7–60 months). The mean strain ratios were 0.67 (range 0.12–1.41) for the undescended testes and there were no significant differences in undescended testes strain ratios related to patient age (p=0.453). ConclusionThis preliminary study showed that there were no significant fibrosis which can be demonstrated with elastosonography before the age of 5 years old. Additional studies with histopathological results are needed to identify sensitivity and specificity of elastosonography in undescended testis and in planning optimal operation time for these patients.