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Journal of Medical Ultrasonics
Published in: Journal of Medical Ultrasonics 3/2019

01-07-2019 | Ultrasound | Review Article

The role of ultrasound imaging in adult patients with testicular torsion: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Koshi Ota, Keisuke Fukui, Koji Oba, Akihiro Shimoda, Masahiro Oka, Kanna Ota, Masahide Sakaue, Akira Takasu

Published in: Journal of Medical Ultrasonics | Issue 3/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

Our aim was to determine the accuracy of ultrasound (US) examination-based testicular torsion diagnosis in adult patients with acute scrotal pain.

Methods

A comprehensive electronic search was performed using internet retrieval systems up to 5 August 2018 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy (QUADAS-2). The diagnostic value of ultrasound in patients with testicular torsion was evaluated using pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio, as well as the summary receiver operating characteristics curve.

Results

Twenty-six studies with 2116 patients were included in the study. Overall diagnostic sensitivity was 0.86 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79–0.91] and specificity was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92–0.97). Subgroup analysis of prospective studies showed pooled sensitivity of ultrasound for testicular torsion was 0.94 (95% CI 0.83–0.98), and pooled specificity was 0.98 (95% CI 0.94–1.00). Recent studies after 2010 showed diagnostic sensitivity of 0.95 (95% CI 0.84–0.99) and specificity of 0.98 (95% CI 0.93–0.99).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis demonstrated that ultrasound represents an effective imaging modality for diagnosing testicular torsion in adult patients with acute scrotal pain.
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Metadata
Title
The role of ultrasound imaging in adult patients with testicular torsion: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Koshi Ota
Keisuke Fukui
Koji Oba
Akihiro Shimoda
Masahiro Oka
Kanna Ota
Masahide Sakaue
Akira Takasu
Publication date
01-07-2019
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Published in
Journal of Medical Ultrasonics / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 1346-4523
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-019-00937-3

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