The Diagnostic Value of Combined Conventional MRI and Diffusion Weighted MRI in Diagnosis of Non-Palpable Undescended Testes

Abstract

Cryptorchidism is the absence of one or both testes in the scrotum The term ‘non-palpable testes’ implies that the testes cannot be detected on physical examination; they are intra-abdominal, absent, vanishing or atrophic. Diagnostic imaging has been utilized to determine the anatomic location of non-palpable testes. Accurate pre-surgical localization of the testis could spare a child an operation in the setting of an absent testis or limit the extent of surgery if the testis can be definitively identified. MRI is non invasive imaging tool, does not involve ionizing radiation and yields multiplanar images but it is sometimes less efficient in locating intra-abdominal functioning testicles and it fails to locate most of the atrophied testicles. Additional MRI assessments, as fat-suppressed T2WI and DWI are useful methods to improve the accuracy and sensitivity of diagnosis of non-palpable testes.