Testicular Ultrasound Procedure - Essay Example

Testicular Ultrasound Procedure In simple definition, ultrasound is a term used to refer to a procedure involving cyclic sound wave of concentrated pressure that has a frequency much greater to that of the upper limit within the range of human hearing. The review in this case study involves how a testicular ultrasound procedure would have been used to examine a lump issue presented by a 42 year old male. This case researches further about a 42 year old patient, who willingly visits a health center to present what he termed as a small lump in his left testis. Further information drawn from the patient concluded that the lump however inflicted neither pain nor fever as a result and thus the importance to dwell on the issue. Before any medical is declared fit and at a position to undergo ultrasound procedures, it is necessary that physical examination is first carried out (Bluth, 2008, 75). In this case, in particular, physical examination provides results certifying that both testes were of normal shape and no suspicions were tested positive by the examination. After much thorough examination, it was revealed that the patient had a small and painless mass just at the front of the left epididymal head. With these findings, it is considered highly probable that it was the initial mass that the patient had reported having noticed. These results give a clear go ahead for the carrying out of ultrasound procedures on the patient to give deeper detail to assist in aiding the patient with the necessary treatment. The testicular ultrasound procedure makes use of emitted sound waves, which get run over the area in test and produce a reporting image referred to as sonogram. This procedure is much different from the common X-Ray procedures that make use of penetrating x-ray radiation waves that are to some extend known to have dire consequences on the subject. Scrotal ultrasound is a more precise mode of testicular ultrasound procedures. It involves the imaging test in effort to examine the scrotum, do come up with even more and deeper detail to enable proper diagnosis and treatment of the lump. In simple highlight of the scrotal ultrasound procedure, the subject patient lays down at a designated platform and exhibits the scrotum for tests (Benson, 2009, 112). Clear gel is applied on the area being examined. An ultrasound machine that creates images from the high frequency waves produced is introduced as a computer receives these reflected waves creating a conclusive picture. This procedure renders the patient diagnosed with high probability of suffering from epididymal cyst. This is a sperm-filled cyst that develops in or just around the epididymis that in normal cases feels like a lump in the scrotum, symptoms similar to those of the 42 year old patient in question. Further research is known to show that they contain very many low-level echoes as the presence of turbid sperm-filled fluid. Test results show that in the case of an epididymal cyst displays presence of impurities within the cyst thus placing a bridge between an epididymal cyst and a spermatocele cyst (Cobbold, 2008, 48). A spermatocyte, which is in some situations indefinable from an epididimal cyst is retention cyst of the rete testes that contains watery fluid with much linear impurities, which are mainly spermatozoa (Sircar, 2008, 59). These are the most common cystic condition causing, and are normally encountered within the scrotum, similar to the case of the patient in research. Thorough research by scientist has shown an epididymal cyst to be a congenital lesion that occurs in an approximate volume of males, as high as 5%. In majority of these cases, it is evidently experienced more by people between the ages of 15-20 years. However, the majority whom would suffer dire consequences if suffering from an epididimal cyst are the senior males of ages 35 to 60 years of age. These includes our patient too, who as a result of early detection and treatment, is able to walk out of these risk every bit free. As far as treatment is concerned, as well as other health issues, spermatoceles are not generally considered dangerous and may only be treated when they cause pain (Coley, 2009, 69). In cases where epididymis and spermatoceles cause extreme pain and discomfort, a medical procedure known as spermatocelectomy is carried out on the patient, the aim being to remove the infected spermatocele and ease the situation. Thorough examination especially use of Doppler ultrasound may prove very essential in saving situations. In cases of testicular torsion, Doppler ultrasound helps revealed irregular blood flow to the penis due to for example, an instance of a twisted testicle: thus reducing cases of unnecessary procedures that would alternatively be used, though expensive, but to come to more or less the same conclusion. The basic principle behind this life-saving ultrasound procedure is that it is a technique involving medical imaging that is used to visualize muscles, tendons and all other critical internal body units, that captures their approximate size, their structure, and any other pathological lesions with real tomographic images. An ultrasound procedure carried out on a patient subject is researched to poses no risk to the patient. Benefits of ultrasound medical procedures outweigh any risks that may come at long term, after continued exposure to these waves.After considerably thorough research, the 42 year old patient was diagnosed with epididymal cyst. Epididymal cyst is closely similar to spermataceles cyst only that in this case, the patient was suffering from a lump on his left testicle, only this time the lump was much smaller than that in the case of a spermataceles cyst (Cheng, 2010, 29). Use of ultrasound medical procedures has grown widely, leading to its use in cases of trauma and first aid. These have led to building necessity of emergency ultrasound kit becoming a staple of seemingly all emergency service response teams. Use of ultrasound also stretches to being in the first-line of use when it comes to remote diagnosis cases such as scientific experiments, either in space or during mobile sports team diagnosis. When put to maximum aid use, ultrasound procedures are known to be useful in detection of pelvic abnormalities, these goes to the extent of involvement of abdominal, vaginal and rectal techniques in this procedure all in a critical move to save a patient’s life. References Bluth, E. 2008. Ultrasound: A Practical Approach to Clinical Problems. New York: Cengage Learning. Benson, C. 2009. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. London: Oxford University Press. Cobbold, R. 2008. Foundations of Biomedical Ultrasound. Chicago: Chicago University Press. Cheng, L. 2010. Urologic Surgical Pathology. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Coley, B. 2009. Pediatric Imaging. London: Oxford University Press. Sircar, S. 2010. Principles of Medical Psychology. Chicago: Chicago University Press. Read More