title: Pilot feasibility study of transscrotal near infrared spectroscopy in the evaluation of adult acute scrotum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the usefulness of transscrotal near infrared spectroscopy that measures testicular oxygen saturation (StO2%) in the diagnosis of testicular torsion vs other causes of the acute scrotum in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January and May 2009, 16 adult males presenting with acute scrotum underwent StO2% measurement of the affected and unaffected testis using near infrared spectroscopy followed by color Doppler ultrasound. If surgically explored, near infrared spectroscopy was performed at surgery and on postoperative day 1. Data were presented as means ± SD and/or normalized to the internal control. Cutoff value was generated for the StO2% difference between the affected testis and control side.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen males with acute scrotum of mean duration 12 hours were enrolled. Of 11 patients with abnormal Doppler undergoing surgical exploration, mean StO2% of the affected testis at presentation and at surgery decreased from 40.09 ± 2.66 (range 36 to 44) to 37.18 ± 3.31 (range 32 to 42), respectively, while StO2% of the unaffected testis remained 63.09 (range 55 to 69) both at presentation (SD 4.72) and at surgery (SD 4.98). Of the 11 surgically explored, 4 had orchiectomy and 7 patients underwent surgical detorsion. At presentation and at surgical exploration of the detorsed group, the mean normalized difference between the StO2% values of the affected and unaffected sides was -16.12 and -25.9, respectively. A cutoff value of -11.5 was measured for the StO2% difference between the affected testis and control side at presentation in patients who underwent surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Near infrared spectroscopy identified all surgically confirmed cases of testicular torsion when affected testis StO2% was more than 11.5 units lower than the contralateral testis. In pilot testing, near infrared spectroscopy is a rapid, noninvasive, easy and safe method for the differential diagnosis of adult human testicular torsion.
authors: Department of Urology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Berk
authors: B
authors: Burgu
authors: Ozgu
authors: O
authors: Aydogdu
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Huang
authors: Tarkan
authors: T
authors: Soygur
authors: Onder
authors: O
authors: Yaman
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Baker
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods; D061214:Patient Safety; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012611:Scrotum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods