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The Fountain Sign
Author(s) -
Geiger Julia,
Epelman Monica,
Darge Kassa
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2010.29.8.1233
Subject(s) - medicine , scrotum , epididymitis , testicular torsion , radiology , etiology , fountain , differential diagnosis , acute scrotum , surgery , pathology , history , archaeology
Objective. Acute idiopathic scrotal edema (AISE) is an important differential diagnosis in children presenting with an acute scrotum. Sonography plays an important role in excluding testicular torsion, epididymitis, and torsion of a testicular appendage and confirming the diagnosis of AISE. The purpose of this series was to evaluate the relevance of color Doppler sonography (CDS) in children presenting with AISE. Methods. Ten patients with AISE who underwent CDS during a 25‐month period were retrospectively analyzed with regard to typical sonographic findings distinguishing AISE from other causes of scrotal edema. Results. Marked bilateral scrotal wall thickening and hyperemia resembling a fountain were detected in the transverse plane on CDS in all patients. Conclusions. This report highlights the usefulness of CDS in diagnosing AISE by showing that the “fountain sign” is related to hypervascularity of the scrotal wall. In an acute scrotum, this sign may help differentiate AISE from other etiologies.