Finding the right tests…
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
Sonography
SCROTAL DOPPLER images both testicles and the surrounding scrotal structures together, checking blood flow to each side. It's the standard test doctors reach for when sudden, severe testicular pain raises concern for testicular torsion, a twisting of the spermatic cord that cuts off a testicle's own blood supply and needs surgery to fix. Doppler is central to that check because it directly shows whether blood is reaching the testicle or not, comparing one side against the other. The same scan is also used for less urgent scrotal pain, swelling, or a suspected infection like epididymitis, where it helps tell a treatable infection apart from a surgical emergency.
This scan compares blood flow to each testicle side by side, along with checking the epididymis, any fluid buildup, and the overall size and texture of both testicles. Reduced or absent flow on one side, especially with sudden pain, points toward torsion and is treated as urgent.
Testicular torsion happens when the spermatic cord, which carries the blood vessels supplying a testicle, twists on itself and cuts off that blood supply. It's a true surgical emergency, most common in adolescents and young men, though it can happen at any age.
A twisted testicle can often be saved if blood flow is restored within a few hours of symptoms starting, and the chances of saving it fall sharply the longer the delay goes on. That narrow window is why sudden, severe testicular pain is treated as urgent, and why this scan is usually done quickly rather than scheduled for a later date.
Doppler compares blood flow between the two testicles side by side. Reduced or absent flow on the painful side, especially alongside a twisted appearance of the spermatic cord itself, points strongly toward torsion. This comparison is accurate in the large majority of cases, though it isn't infallible, so a doctor's clinical judgment about symptoms and exam findings stays central to the decision even when the scan is reassuring.
When torsion isn't the finding, this same scan often identifies a more common and far less urgent cause of scrotal pain, such as an infection or fluid buildup, that can be treated without surgery.
Sudden severe pain can be a sign of testicular torsion, where the blood supply to the testicle is cut off. The chance of saving the testicle depends heavily on how quickly blood flow is restored, so this scan is usually done without delay.
It compares blood flow between your two testicles side by side. Reduced or absent flow on the painful side is a strong sign pointing toward torsion.
It's accurate in the large majority of cases but isn't perfect. Your doctor's clinical judgment based on your symptoms and exam stays central to the decision, even alongside a reassuring scan.
No. It's also used for scrotal pain or swelling from other causes, like an infection called epididymitis, a fluid buildup, or after an injury.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
No, it's painless, though the area may already be tender from whatever is causing your symptoms. A probe with gel is moved gently over the scrotum.
Both are usually imaged and compared, since seeing how the unaffected side looks helps your doctor judge what's different about the painful one.
No. It's an ultrasound-based scan using sound waves, with no radiation exposure at all.
There's no special preparation needed for most patients, but ask your doctor or the centre to confirm before you come in, especially if the scan has been arranged urgently.