Assessment of testes with two-dimensional shear wave elastography in patients with operated inguinal hernia

Aim: We compared the two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) values between the testes with same side operated inguinal hernia (IH) and the contralateral testes, as well as the testes of healthy volunteers without IH. Material and methods: A total of 189 participants (117 unilateral [117 testes] and 8 bilateral operated IH patients [16 testes] and 64 healthy volunteers [128 testes]), providing a total of 378 testicles, were investigated prospectively. All patients underwent B-mode ultrasonography (US) and 2D-SWE examinations. Operation type, the period between diagnosis and operation, the period since the operation, testes volumes, and 2D-SWE values were compared. Results: The B-mode US finding of the testes were normal in all participants. The mean testes’ volume of same side operated IH was significantly lower comparing to contralateral testes and the healthy group (p<0.001). The 2D-SWE values of the testes with same side operated IH were significantly higher comparing to the contralateral testes and the healthy group (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between 2D-SWE values and IH severity, as well as the duration of the hernia (p=0.001). There was no significant correlation between the IH severity and testes volume (p=0.285). No significant difference was found between the direct and indirect IH in terms of testicular volume and SWE values and between the duration of the hernia, the time after sugery, testicular volume and SWE values according to operation techniques (p>0.005). Conclusions: The 2D-SWE can be used as an effective imaging method to evaluate testicular stiffness with objective numerical values, to estimate the severity of histologic damage in patients with operated IH.