MR Imaging of Scrotum and Testes - Experiences in The Armed Forces Taichung General Hospital

Abstract

From July 1994 to July 1996, 29 men with scrotal diseases and one normal volunteer, all aged 11 to 79 years, underwent MRI examination and previous ultrasonographic (7.5 MHz) study. A GE Signa 1.5-T system and surface coil were used to obtain T1-and T2-weighted images. Gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (GD-DTPA) was applied for image enhance-ment. Among the patients, 6 were with inflammation, 5 with undescending testes, 5 with ischemic testicles, 3 with intratesticular tumors, 1 with an extratesticular tumor, 3 with traumatic scrotums, 3 with varicoceles, and 1 each with hydrocele, hernia and vascular disease. Ultrasonic localiza-tion made 90% accuracy rate in diagnosis of scrotal diseases; however, MRI and dynamic en-hanced MR imaging provided 100% sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. MRI studies made it unnecessary to undergo diagnostic scrotal exploration in two cases (1 vascular disease, 1 acute epididymo-orchitis) and orchiectomy in three cases (2 epidermoid cysts and 1 simple cyst with hemorrhage). It also determined one case of extra-testicular tumor. The method clearly defined proper surgical plans for 5 cases of undescended testes. All pathologic scrota showed the great-est contrast in T2-weighted images. The studay demonstrated that dynamic enhanced MR imaging is powerful in case of ischemic testis and intratesticular lesions. (J Urol R.O.C., 9:111-116, 1998)