A Minimally Invasive Method in Diagnosing Testicular Torsion: The Initial Experience of Scrotoscope.

PURPOSE: To introduce scrotoscopy in the diagnosis of testicular torsion and evaluate its value in clinical application.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 2010 to June 2013, 14 patients, aged 12 to 24 years, were included into this study due to acute onset of scrotal pain. On Doppler ultrasound imaging, the blood flow decreased in seven cases (including two "no flow" cases) and remained normal in the other seven. Following anesthesia, a 10F pediatric cystoscope employed as scrotoscope was inserted into the cavity of tunica vaginalis of the testis with continued saline washing to exam the testis and epididymis.

RESULTS: The scrotoscope had a diagnostic accuracy of 100% (100% specificity and 100% sensitivity), and the color Doppler ultrasound had 77.8% specificity. Five cases were diagnosed with testicular torsion, among which four were corrected and one underwent orchiectomy. No complications were observed in these patients. Nine patients with epididymitis were given oral antibiotics, and the blood flow of the testis was normal in the testis-preserving patient.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that scrotoscopy could serve as a minimally invasive, safe, and effective approach in the early diagnosis of testicular torsion.