Data from: Utility of real-time shear wave elastography in the assessment of testicular torsion

Real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE) is a newly developed method which
can obtain the stiffness of tissues and organs based on tracking of shear
wave propagation through a structure. Several studies have demonstrated
its potential in the differentiation between diseased and normal tissue in
clinical practices, however the applicability to testicular disease has
not been well elucidated. We investigated the feasibility and
reproducibility of SWE in the detection of testicular torsion. This
prospective study comprised 15 patients with complete testicular torsion.
Results obtained from SWE along with conventional gray-scale and color
Doppler sonography and post-operative pathology were compared. The results
revealed that (i) the size of injured testis was increased and the twisted
testis parenchyma was heterogeneous. The blood flow signals in injured
testis were barely visible or absent; (ii) The Young’s modulus, including
Emean, Emax, Emin and SD values in the border area of torsional testis
were higher than those of normal testis (Emean, 78.07±9.01kPa vs
22.0±5.10kPa; Emax,94.07±6.53kPa vs 27.87±5.78kPa; Emin, 60.73±7.84 kPa vs
18.90±4.39kPa; SD, 7.67±0.60 kPa vs 2.30±0.36 kPa, [P<0.05]); The
Emax and SD values in the central area of the torsional testis were higher
than the corresponding area of the normal testis (Emax, 8.23±0.30 kPa vs
3.97±0.95kPa; SD, 1.5±0.26kPa vs 0.67±0.35kPa,[P<0.05]) and Emin
values was lower than those of normal testicles(0.93±0.51kPa vs
1.6±0.36kPa; [P<0.05]); (iii) The Young's modulus measurement
between two physicians showed good agreement. The pathological findings
were accordance with SWE measurement. SWE is a non-invasive, convenient
and high reproducible method and may serve as an important alternative
tool in the diagnosis and monitoring the progression of the acute
scrotums, in additional to conventional Doppler sonography.