Abstract
Objective
To develop a near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy device to diagnose testicular torsion
with high sensitivity and specificity. Specifically, we aim to investigate the differentiation
between testicular torsion from other pathologies such as orchidoepididymitis, varicocele,
and hydrocele.
Methods
Two LEDs with wavelengths of 660 nm and 940 nm were used as light sources in the device.
Each wavelength was sent to the testicle successively, and a photodiode detected back-reflected
diffuse light. The ratio of the light intensities of 660 nm and 940 nm was used as
a diagnostic parameter. A multi-center clinical trial was performed in 5 different
hospitals.
Results
In total, 62 patients in urology clinics with acute testicular pain have been recruited
for the study. The developed NIR spectroscopy correctly defined all 8 testicular torsion
cases. Besides, 3 orchidoepididymitis, 1 varicocele, and 3 hydrocele cases were correctly
distinguished from testicular torsion. Only 1 hydrocele case was misdiagnosed as torsion.
The range of the ratio was between 0.14 and 1.16 overall measurements. The ratio varied
between 0.14 and 0.3 for the testicle with torsion. The ratio was between 0.49 and
1.16 for the normal testicle and testicle with other pathologies mentioned above.
Conclusion
We have chosen the threshold ratio of 0.4 to differentiate between the normal and
torsion testis and diagnosed all the torsion cases among all normal and other pathologies.
The developed optical device to diagnose testicular torsion is inexpensive, user-friendly,
and works based on objective criteria with high sensitivity and specificity in real
time.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 12, 2023
Accepted:
January 2,
2023
Received:
November 10,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofFootnotes
Financial Disclosure: The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests.
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
