title: Differentiation of inflammatory from non-inflammatory causes of acute scrotum using relatively simple laboratory tests: prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The differential diagnosis of an acute scrotum is of great importance in clinical practice and may be difficult in some cases. The aim of this study was to differentiate inflammatory from non-inflammatory causes of acute scrotum using relatively simple laboratory tests which can be performed quickly and easily outside a hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2007 to 2010, 85 boys with acute scrotum were included in this prospective study. There were 28 boys with inflammatory and 57 with non-inflammatory causes. We investigated the role of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, leukocyte, white blood cell differential count, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase and child's age in differential diagnosis of the acute scrotum, differentiating inflammatory from non-inflammatory causes of the disease. We used receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis and logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant parameters in accurate differentiation between inflammatory and non-inflammatory causes of the acute scrotum were C-reactive protein (p = 0.001) and child's age (p < 0.001). These two parameters yielded the probability of an inflammatory outcome in the etiology of acute scrotum with sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 69.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C-reactive protein and child's age are helpful in differentiating inflammatory from non-inflammatory causes of the acute scrotum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Split and Split University School of Medicine, Spinčićeva 1, 21 000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jakov
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meštrović
authors.forename: Mihovil
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biočić
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pogorelić
authors.forename: Dubravko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.forename: Nikica
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Družijanić
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Todorić
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Capkun
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012611:Scrotum; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein