Ultrasonographic and Gross Pathological Studies on Testes and Epididymides of Rams and Bucks with Potential Lesions

ABSTRACT Ultrasonographic imaging of 30 organs of adult rams and bucks with spontaneous lesions of testes and epididymides and 10 normal organs was carried out, using a B-mode ultrasound scanner. Each organ was incised and the nature of lesions and their contents was observed. Ultrasonically, testes of normal rams and bucks appeared homogeneous and moderately echogenic. Mediastinum testis was seen as a centrally located hyperechoic line in longitudinal images and by an almost circular hyperechoic area in the middle of the organ in transverse images. The epididymal head and body were less echogenic than the testis and were homogeneous; the epididymal tail was heterogeneous, but less echogenic than the testis. In organs with lesions, various lesions included sperm granulomata in the epididymis, testicular degeneration with or without mineralization, testicular abscesses and chronic epididymitis. In early stages, sperm granuloma appeared as an anechoic mass with ill-defined border. In advanced stages, it exhibited a mixture of anechoic and hyperechoic areas, encircled by a thick hyperechoic border. In early cases of testicular degeneration, testicular parenchyma showed reduced echogenicity. However, in advanced cases, hyperechoic areas were scattered in affected parenchyma. Testicular abscesses showed anechoic cavities with some hyperechoic areas. In chronic epididymitis, echogenicity of epididymal tail was increased, probably due to fibrosis of organ. It was concluded that diagnostic ultrasound may be used to confirm the presence, and to some extent nature, of lesions in the testis or the epididymis.