Chronic tuberculous epididymitis: color Doppler US findings with histopathologic correlation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the color Doppler features of tuberculous epididymitis and to correlate these findings with histopathologic findings.

METHODS: Color Doppler ultrasound (US) findings of 12 histopathologically proven tuberculous epididymitis and tuberculous epididymo-orchitis in 11 consecutive patients were retrospectively analyzed. Color Doppler US findings of tuberculous epididymitis were correlated with histopathologic findings.

RESULTS: Color Doppler US findings of tuberculous epididymitis demonstrated no blood flow in the epididymal lesions except for focal linear or spotty flow signals in the peripheral portion. These findings correlated well with pathologic findings; the central portion of the epididymal lesions demonstrated granulomas with caseation necrosis, and the peripheral portion of the epididymal lesions had several medium to small vessels.

CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler US may be helpful for differential diagnosis of tuberculous epididymitis and non-tuberculous epididymitis.