Comparison of the superb microvascular imaging technique and the color Doppler techniques for evaluating children’s testicular blood flow

L. Karaca, A. Oral, M. Kantarci, R. Sade, H. Ogul, U. Bayraktutan, A. Okur, İ. Yüce

Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. karacaleyla4@gmail.com

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• Radiology

OBJECTIVE: We have compared conventional Color Doppler (CD) and Power Doppler (PD) techniques, which are used for evaluating the testicular blood flow in small children, and the Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI), which is a new technique. We have also investigated their contributions to testicular evaluations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated blood flow in testicles using a grading system with CD, PD and SMI techniques. We determined the average duration of the three techniques.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the SMI and CD techniques for all patients (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). When we compared the PD and SMI, either as much or more vascular information was obtained (p = 0.106). There was a statistically significant difference between the application durations of the tests (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Superb Microvascular Imaging yields more detailed vascular information in blood flow in testicles in small children, than either CD or PD. Furthermore, this technique decreases the duration of the examination at a significant level. Superb Microvascular Imaging may represent an alternative method that can be used safely for evaluating blood flow in the testicles of small children. Additional studies may increase the reliability of SMI.

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