Shortcomings of color Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of testicular torsion.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the shortcomings of color Doppler sonography for the diagnosis of testicular torsion.


METHODS
We reviewed 5 cases of testicular torsion in which findings on color Doppler sonography were inconsistent with surgical findings.


RESULTS
Color Doppler sonography showed blood flow in 2 patients who had necrotic testes at surgery. In 3 other patients blood flow was also normal by color Doppler sonography of whom 2 were treated for epididymitis with subsequent loss of the testes and 1 underwent salvage by immediate exploration.


CONCLUSIONS
Testicular torsion is a clinical diagnosis requiring consideration of many variables. Color Doppler sonography is helpful but should not be regarded as the definitive discriminator.
Allen
T D
TD
Division of Pediatric Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Elder
J S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color