Keywords:
Genital / Reproductive system male, Ultrasound, Elastography, Ultrasound-Colour Doppler, Diagnostic procedure, Comparative studies, Statistics, Endocrine disorders
Authors:
A. Aslan1, A. Aktan2, A. Buz2, Y. O. Danacioglu2, I. caymaz2, B. Erol2, A. Kabaalioglu2; 1İstanbul/TR, 2Istanbul/TR
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2018/C-1957
Methods and materials
Methods and Materials:
After approval of the study from Istanbul Medeniyet University,
Goztepe Research and Training Hospital Ethics Committee,
the study was immediately started.
Patient Population:
15 male patients with no medical history may affect the gonads,
diagnosed as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism previously were included in the study.
Written informed consent was obtained from all patients participated to our study.
Data acquisition:
All sonoelastographic examinations were performed using a ultrasound(US) scanner (TUS-A500,
Aplio™ 500; Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation,
Otawara,
Japan) with a 14L5 MHz linear array probe (PLT-1005 BT) (frequency range 5 to 14 MHz).
Evaluations conducted by 5 year and 2 year sonoelastography experienced radiologists.
During analysis patients were placed in supine position.
Initially both testes and epididymides evaluated on B-mode US and echogenicity,echotexture,
sizes in 3 planes and volumes of the testicles were recorded individually(Figure 1).
Afterwards, RTE was performed by each physician,
with free hand technique.
Images were obtained under periodic compressions and at the decompression phases(Figure 2A,
2B).
Finally,
with the same probe and at the same position radiologists continued with SWE evaluation of testicles.Elasticity and propagation mode images were captured with centrally located large region of interests(ROI).
Elasticity was demonstrated with blue to red colour spectrum which gradually got softer respectively(Figure 2C,
2D).
Data Analysis:
All gray scale US,
SWE and RTE were performed by two observer seperately.
All sonoelastographic data were recorded and evaluated by each observer individually.
To standardize the assessments before beginning to the study a short education was given to observers.
Sonographic features of the testicles and epididymides,
RTE pattern and shear velocity and elasticity modulus on SWE were assessed.
Statistical Analysis:
According to RTE,
testis and epididymis were classified as hard,
moderate and soft elasticity.
Continous variables were presented as mean (±SD) and noncontinuous variables were presented as number (percentage).
The interobserver agreement was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Statistical analysis were obtained by using SPSS22.0 for Windows software (SPSS Inc.,
Chicago,
IL,
USA).
Statistical significance was accepted as p <0.05