Scrotal US in pediatric patients: comparison of power and standard color Doppler US.

PURPOSE: To compare power Doppler ultrasonography (US) with standard color Doppler US in the evaluation of testicular and epididymal blood flow in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular and epididymal flow were analyzed retrospectively in 24 testes in 12 prepubertal boys (mean age, 4 years) and 49 testes in 25 postpubertal boys (mean age, 14 years) with color and power Doppler US. Absence of testicular abnormality was based on clinical follow-up or scintigraphy.

RESULTS: Power Doppler US depicted flow in 22 of 24 prepubertal testes and in all 49 postpubertal testes. Color Doppler US depicted flow in 20 prepubertal testes and in all 49 postpubertal testes. Flow was detected in five and three postpubertal epididymides with power and color Doppler US, respectively. A greater mean number of vessels per 1 cm2 of testicular parenchyma were detected with power than with color Doppler US in pre- and postpubertal testes.

CONCLUSION: Power Doppler US improves depiction of intratesticular vessels, but flow cannot be identified in all prepubertal testes. Detection of epididymal flow is infrequent in postpubertal patients but appears comparable with both techniques.