Introduction

Acute scrotum is described as "acute onset of scrotal discomfort and swelling that necessitates emergency surgery or specialized medicinal care".^[1] Scrotal swellings are most prevalents in both children and adults.

Acute scrotum can be caused by a multitude of factors. Torsion of the testis, torsion of the appendix testis, epididymo-orchitis, scrotal wall abscess, Fournier's gangrene, scrotal haematoma, testicular tumor, and a variety of other diseases such as "idiopathic scrotal oedema, scrotal fat necrosis, Henoch Schonlein purpura, ischemic orchitis, Because of their incidence and severity, testicular torsion, epididymo-orchitis, and Fournier's gangrene need special attention.

Both testes are located on the surface of the scrotum in a cutaneous bag. Though it is easily accessible for clinical examination, it is difficult to distinguish benign from malignant swellings, as well as intra-testicular from extratesticular swellings, and hydrocele complicates determining the status of the underlying testis.

Clinical indications and symptoms are frequently ambiguous, changeable, and deceptive. As a result, visualizing is extremely useful for problem solving. Clinical assessment of scrotal contents was limited to palpation and trans-illumination until the mid-1970s.

Since Murray Miskin and Jerald Bain published their first report in 1974 on using diagnostic ultrasound to investigate scrotal pathologies, advances in instrumentation and transducer design have progressed to the point where high frequency US is now the modality of choice for investigating scrotal and testicular pathology.^[2]

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Dr Kunal Singh

Post graduate trainee, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Katihar Medical College, Katihar