Magnetic resonance imaging of scrotal masses

ABSTRACT

Ultrasonography [US] is usually the initial imaging modality for evaluation of scrotal masses; however, magnetic resonance [MR] imaging can be useful as a problem-solving tool when sonographic findings are equivocal. The aim of this work is to provide examples of the utility of MR as a solving problem tool in assessing scrotal masses. Fifty two patients presented clinically with palpable scrotal masses were subjected to US and MRI imaging with Surgical and/or histopathological correlation. MRI was superior to US in cases of abscess formation, in delineating the abscess wall and cavity and exclusion of neoplasm. Apart from the 2 cases of teratoma in which MRI detected the presence of fat inside the tumour, MRI did not add more information than US in the diagnosis of testicular tumours, but provided additional information in cases of trauma and pseudotumours. It is confirmed that US is irreplaceable as a primary choice in scrotal masses imaging. However, at present, MRI provides information similar to that obtained with ultrasonography in some cases but in certain circumstances MRI proved to be superior to US as in cases of complex inflammatory or neoplastic masses and in some cases of testicular trauma