Testicular Ultrasound Results

[3kidsinall]

My husband recently had a testicular ultrasound done because of pain he was having. The doctor felt a mass and sent him for the ultrasound. They figured that it was an infection, but they called today & said it is not an infection and that the report reads that there is "an area of density" on the right side. They also found a varicocele on the left side, but said it is unrelated to this area of density on the right. He is being sent to see a Urologist on Tuesday. I can't find anything online about density on a testicular ultrasound. This has me worried. Anyone know of this term on ultrasound of the testicles or had this result as well? What was the outcome? Thanks so much.

[dadmo]

An ultrasound is done to determine if a mass is solid or fluid filled. In your husbands case it's solid. Don't panic but the doctors will most likely want to examine the mass and to do that they will need to remove the testicle. It an operation that takes less then a hour and is done very much like a hernia operation with an incesion just below the belt line. They will pull the testicle and tubes out that slit and cut it free from the body. The testicle will be sent to a lab for examination. As you might imagine a solid mass is going be be assumed to be cancer.
The next week will be tough. You will find that waiting for answers is awful.

[3kidsinall]

Thanks dadmo. So, the ultrasound stating an area of density means that it is solid? I was quite surprised to get thecall from the doctors office this morning. He put him on cipro originally because he assumed it was probably an infection, but ordered the u/s to be sure. I worry so much about him. He is 34 yrs. old....his dad died at age 47 from cancer and his sister at age 36 from cancer. I know even if it were t/c it is highly curable, but this has really surprised me. We actually just kind of forgot about it because we thought for sure it was an infection. The nurse said that the doctor said, "its not an infection, so stop taking the cipro...it's not going to do anything". How do they know that? Is it because they know by "density" that it is solid and not actual infection? I'm sorry for asking so many ?'s....just clueless about all of this. Oh, also...my husband never felt the lump himself. The doctor actually found it when he went in about the pain he was feeling down there.

[dadmo]

Yes it's the ultrasound that told him the mass is soild and not fluid filled. It's fairly common for the mass to be completely inside the testicle. A solid mass isn't a good sign but if it is tc it is highly curable if caught early and treated properly. Don't make yourself crazy but check out this site for lots of very usefull information on tc.

[3kidsinall]

Thank you Did your u/s state an area of density originally as well? I'll certainly try not to make myself crazy My daughter graduates h.s. on friday & we have the big grad. party here on Saturday so we will be busy until Tuesday....we have lots to be happy & thankful for to keep our minds occupied!

[dadmo]

Yes my son's ultrasound showed density and the testicle was removed the same day. I'm not saying you're husband needs it out today but be ready to act fast when he sees the urologist on Tuesday.

[Already Bald]

Just as Dadmo has written, your husband likely will lose the testicle. (It's not as bad as it seems- the body compensates). The tough part is waiting for the pathology report- and a second opinion on the pathology is a good idea when dealing with a rare cancer like TC.
An area of density sounds to me like a solid mass.
Hang in there.

[3kidsinall]

Thank you too for your reply....all info is GREATLY appreciated. He doesn't want to think about it....I want to learn all I can I guess I'm used to females...breast density is normal Well, not much to do now but to wait. I love him with all my heart & soul. If it turns out to be t/c, it's good to find out now than later. If it turns out to be nothing, time to celebrate! Thanks again & anyone else with additional info please reply as well!

[dadmo]

As long as one of you is paying attention. Just make sure everytime you see a doctor you take notes and ask for copies. Your husband may act as if he doesn't care but tell him everything you learn. Enjoy your weekend and remember it may be nothing.

[3kidsinall]

Hey Dadmo! I'm so glad you said "remember, it may be nothing". That's what I'm trying to find The internet doesn't offer much as far as what it could be outside of infection or that twisted thing that is an emergency. We know it's neither of those, so is there anything else you can think of could be going on?

[dadmo]

We get a few cases every year where it turns out to be a harmless benign tumor. Check out this recent thread.

[3kidsinall]

Wow...now that is encouraging! Thank you so much for passing that information along. May I ask a probable stupid ? What does "hypoechoic" mean? Does that mean area of density? I'm planning to go tomorrow to the doctors office and get a copy of the report from the radiologist so I know EXACTLY what is says. Thanks again!

[dadmo]

Yes it means that the sound waves bounced right of it. If it was fluid it wouldn't allow some sound to penetrate. This is from the GE Healthcare web site "Sonographically, the malignant testicular tumors appear as well-defined masses that are primarily hypoechoic".

[djmac]

May I ask a probable stupid ? What does "hypoechoic" mean? Does that mean area of density?

Not stupid at all, in fact your interpretation is pretty close. Ultrasound works by firing "ultra" high frequency sound waves into tissue and then reading the sound waves that bounce back, or the "echoes". In this way, they resemble sonar, or "fish-finders", but on a much smaller scale and a much higher frequency.

Since tumors have a different density than surrounding tissue, they bounce back less of the sound waves, producing a "hypoechoic" region, where "hypo" means "less", so: less echoes.

Hope that helps

djm

[dadmo]

I should have said earlier what djm just said. There really isn't a stupid question asked here. This can be a very rough time and trying to understand everthing you're told can be overwhelming. Ask anything you want and ask it as often as you want.