[Incidence of scrotal disease diagnosed with ultrasonography in 60 asymptomatic patients over 70 years of age].
The aim of this study is to detect by ultrasounds the presence of scrotal pathology in a selected group of elderly men asymptomatic for scrotal pathology. From September 1990 to September 1992, 60 patients aged between 70 and 86 years (mean age 78 years) who were seen in the Department of Medicine for non-urogenital diseases were studied by 7.5 MHz linear probe. In 51.6% of patients (31 cases) an ultrasound pathology was detected with prevalence of cystic pathology of the epididymis (15 cases, 25%); in 12 patients (20%) more echographic pathologies were detected. The following abnormalities were observed: 3 cases of enlargement of the scrotal wall, 6 cases of left varicocele, 15 cases of hydrocele, 1 intratesticular area with altered echostructural pattern, 3 intraparenchymal cysts of the testis, 3 retractile testes, 2 dilatations of intratesticular blood-vessels, 15 cysts of the epididymis and 12 cases of increased size of the head of the epididymis. The authors discuss the results and conclude that high incidence of epididymis and testicular nonmalignant pathology are present in their patients; the authors suggest periodical clinical examination and, in selected patients, examination by ultrasound of the genital apparatus, in elderly patients might be useful because often scrotal pathology might be underestimated for socio-cultural reasons.
Divisione di Accettazione e Pronto Soccorso, Regione Silica, USSL n. 35, Ospedale S. Bambino, Catania.
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012611:Scrotum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
Incidenza di patologia ecografica scrotale in 60 pazienti asintomatici di età superiore ai 70 anni.