Assessment of testes with two-dimensional Shear Wave Elastography in patients with operated inguinal hernia

Abstract

Aim: We compared the two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) values between the testes with same side operated inguinal hernia (IH) and the contralateral testes, as well as the testes of healthy volunteers without IH. Material and methods: A total of 189 participants (117 unilateral [117 testes] and 8 bilateral operated IH patients [16 testes] and 64 healthy volunteers [128 testes]), providing a total of 378 testicles, were investigated prospectively. All patients underwent B-mode ultrasonography (US) and 2D-SWE examinations. Operation type, the period between diagnosis and operation, the period since the operation, testes volumes, and 2D-SWE values were compared. Results: The B-mode US finding of the testes were normal in all participants. The mean testes' volume of same side operated IH was significantly lower comparing to contralat-eral testes and the healthy group (p0.005). Conclusions: The 2D-SWE can be used as an effective imag-ing method to evaluate testicular stiffness with objective numerical values, to estimate the severity of histologic damage in patients with operated IH.