| Objective: Sonoelastography is a novel and promising imaging tool,which has been applied to breast,thyroid,and prostate tissues.Sonoelastography is based on strain imaging,and preliminary data on a possible role for sonoelastography in the evaluation of testicular lesions have been reported.However,the study implemented by shear wave elastography(SWE)on the normal testis epididymitis was rare.To explore the outcomes generated by this tool in greater depth,we tested the shear wave elastography characteristics of normal testicular and epididymal tissue and carried out a variety of comparisons.Besides,the related factors of testis and epididymis hardness is studied.Methods: We screened 110 patients who underwent color doppler sonographic examinations of the testes and epididymides in our hospital and performed SWE to evaluate their sonographic features.Firstly,the testicular(including long axis and transverse section)and epididymis(including the head of epididymis,epididymal body and cauda)was examined successively by two-dimensional gray-scale and color doppler ultrasound in the routine examination.Then,the elastic modulus were examined by the SWE imaging,the ROI was placed in bilateral testicular and epididymal at the same regions and different regions and section of all the testes and the E-values were acquired.Furthermore,the patients were grouped based on the age and testicular volume.Measurement data were expressed as mean±SD.For inter-group comparisons,we used paired t tests and independent samples t tests,with P <0.05 considered statistical significant difference.Results:The normal testicular elastographic appearance showed homogeneously blue and the E-value of the epididymis is greater than testis.The E-values in long axis section,upper pole and inferior pole of the testis,the former subcapsular and the posterior subcapsular of testis,the transverse section of the testis were(3.20±0.57)Kpa?(3.94±0.90)Kpa?(3.94±0.97)Kpa?(6.27±1.58)Kpa?(5.96±1.46)Kpa?(3.44±0.51)Kpa,respectively.The E-value of the testis in peripheral zone is higher than central area,while the E-value of the testis in transverse section is higher than long axis section.The E-value of the testis in former subcapsule is higher than posterior subcapsule,however,between the upper and inferior pole,the E-value had no statistical significance difference.In groups,the E-value increase with age,but there is no statistically significant correlation between the E-value and the testicular volume.In addition,there is no obvious effect on E-value of epididymis with age.Conclusions: As a new diagnostic technique,relatively stable imaging can be obtained in the application of evaluating testicular and epididymal hardness by SWE.The testicular hardness in peripheral zone is greater than central area,in in long axis section is greater than transverse section,while the testicular hardness increases as the subject gets older.The above conclusions establish foundation for the further application of SWE diagnosis of scrotal lesion.Although further investigations with larger numbers of patients are required to corroborate these data and to support the use of shear wave elastography in the evaluation of normal testes,it could be expected to be used as a new imaging method for clinically monitoring testicular stiffness and diagnosing scrotal diseases.Objective:To explore the value of shear wave elastography(SWE)for observation on clinical course of acute epididymitis at different time during treatment.Methods:We screened 24 patients with total 25 inflammatory masses in the testicular tail which had been diagnosised as acute epididymitis between april 2016 and january 2017.Recording the SWE E-value and the size and the amount of the masses,at first-visit,2 weeks after first-visit,1 month after first-visit,2 months after first-visit and 3 months after first-visit.Comparing the change of the E-value and the size and the amount of the masses at the same period.Results:Different time points before and after treatment,the E-value and the size and the amount of the masses,respectively.Before the treatment,the average hardness is(50.15±16.90)KPa,the average size is(5.62±3.62)cm3,25 inflammatory masses;after 1 week,the average hardness is(43.29±25.55)KPa,the average size is(3.02±2.37)cm3,23 inflammatory masses;after 2 weeks,the average hardness is(35.82±23.97)KPa,the average size is(2.0±1.98)cm3,20 inflammatory masses;after 1 month,the average hardness is(23.42±13.25)KPa,the average size is(1.12±1.58)cm3,13 inflammatory masses;after 2 months,2 inflammatory masses;after 3 months,all the patients recovered.Conclusions:The SWE technology could reflect the hardness of the inflammatory mass in the process of standardized treatment.With the progress of the treatment,the hardness of the mass showed regular changes. |
PDF Full Text Request