Increased Rotational Mobility of the Testis After Vasectomy: A Sonographic Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate for increased mobility of the testis in postvasectomy patients by observing changes in the position of the testis-epididymis complex (TEC). This was a retrospective study of 29 postvasectomy patients compared with 29 control patients without a history of vas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ultrasound in medicine 2008-12, Vol.27 (12), p.1667-1672
Main Authors: Gerscovich, Eugenio O, Park, Christopher W, Dulude, Michelle Z, McGahan, John P, Stein-Wexler, Rebecca, Greasby, Tamara A, Beckett, Laurel A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Epididymis - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Rotation
Testicular Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Testicular Diseases - etiology
Testis - diagnostic imaging
Torsion Abnormality - diagnostic imaging
Torsion Abnormality - etiology
Ultrasonography
Vasectomy - adverse effects
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to evaluate for increased mobility of the testis in postvasectomy patients by observing changes in the position of the testis-epididymis complex (TEC). This was a retrospective study of 29 postvasectomy patients compared with 29 control patients without a history of vasectomy who were referred for scrotal sonography for various clinical indications over a 1 year-period. The position of the TEC was compared between the two groups. The post-vasectomy group had medial or posteromedial rotation in 13 of 58 testes (22%) compared with 3 of 58 (5%) in the control group. Our study found a statistically higher incidence of medial rotation of the testis in the vasectomy group compared with the control group. Given our findings, it seems reasonable to assume that iatrogenic changes to the structural support mechanism of the testis occur when vasectomy is performed, with a resultant increase in the mobility of the testis within the scrotum.
ISSN:0278-4297
1550-9613
DOI:10.7863/jum.2008.27.12.1667