title: Scrotal calculi in clinical practice and their role in scrotal pain: A prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Scrotal calculi are rare, and their clinical significance is uncertain. Scrotal pain is a frequent, hard-to-manage problem in urology clinics. Our purpose in this study was to determine the relationship between the presence of scrotal calculi and scrotal pain in a prospective manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sonography and color Doppler ultrasound of the scrotum were performed in 758 consecutive patients referred with scrotal pain. The pain was rated by using an 11-point numeric rating scale; scores were compared among patients with scrotal calculi with and without additional scrotal pathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scrotal calculi were detected in 73 of the 758 patients (9.6%). Scrotal pain (n = 50 [61%]) and a palpable mass in the scrotum (n = 25 [30.5%]) were the most common complaints in patients with scrotal calculi. Hydrocele (n = 17 [29.8%]) and varicocele (n = 15 [26.3%]) were the most commonly associated abnormalities; there was a statistically significant association between the presence of scrotal calculi and hydrocele (p < 0.01). Scrotal pain was present in 61 (83.5%) patients with scrotal calculi, and this association was significant (p < 0.001). The presence of scrotal pain and the correlation between location of calculi and pain in patients without additional scrotal abnormalities were also significant (p = 0.04 and p < 0.004, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of scrotal calculi was 9.6%, and hydrocele was found to be associated with scrotal calculi. We also found a significant relationship between the presence of calculi and scrotal pain. Because the etiology of scrotal pain is essential for appropriate treatment, scrotal calculi should be kept in mind when making a differential diagnosis of scrotal pain. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 43:406-411, 2015.
authors.affiliation: Şevket Yılmaz Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.affiliation: Şevket Yılmaz Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dönmez
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Çam
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Can
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gezer
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Akif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Teber
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002137:Calculi / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012611:Scrotum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: calculi; hydrocele; lithiasis; pain; scrotum; ultrasonography