Contrast-enhanced sonography in blunt scrotal trauma

The scope of this study was to determine whether contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), compared with basic US, can increase diagnostic confidence and provide relevant information on blunt scrotal trauma. Over a period of 75 months we examined 40 patients seen consecutively for blunt scrotal trauma using high-resolution US, color-power Doppler, low mechanical index CEUS, and power Doppler after IV administration of contrast medium (SonoVue ®). In the 24 cases that were positive, concordance between basal US and CEUS findings was grade 0 (absent) in 4 cases, grade 1 (low) in 3, grade 2 (moderate) in 8, and grade 3 (high) in 9. The relevance of the additional information provided by CEUS was classified as follows: high in 4/40 (10%), moderate 7/40 (17,5%), low 13/40 (32,5%), none in 14/40 (35%). Our findings demonstrate that CEUS is appreciably more sensitive in detecting damage caused by blunt scrotal trauma, particularly small lesions. It is also useful for differential diagnosis and marginalization of corpuscular fluid collections, fractures, and above all ruptures, which require immediate surgery. In our series 2 out of 3 (67%) patients with testicular rupture were diagnosed only by CEUS. We feel that the use of CEUS can significantly improve diagnostic confidence in cases of closed scrotal trauma although these conclusions need to be confirmed in larger case series. © 2011 Elsevier Srl.