Why is a testicular scan done?
A testicular scan is done to find out the cause of a painful, swollen testicle. The scan is also used to check for damage to the testicles caused by an injury or to look at the flow of blood within the testicles.
How is a testicular scan done?
You will need to remove any jewelry that might get in the way of the scan. You may need to take off all or most of your clothes. You will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the test.
The technologist cleans the site on your arm where the radioactive tracer will be injected. A small amount of the tracer is then injected.
You will lie on your back on a table. Your penis will be taped to your belly to keep it out of the way of the scan. A sling or towel may be used to support the testicles under the scanner. After the tracer is injected, the camera will scan for radiation released by the tracer. The camera produces pictures of the tracer in your testicles. Two scans are done about 15 minutes apart. You need to lie very still during each scan to avoid blurring the pictures. The camera does not produce any radiation. You are not exposed to any more radiation while the scan is being done.
How do you prepare for a testicular scan?
In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to.
What do the results of a testicular scan mean?
The results of the scan are usually available within 2 days. In an emergency, results can be ready within 1 hour.
Normal: | The radioactive tracer flows evenly through the testicles. The tracer does not build up in any area of the testicles. |
|---|---|
Abnormal: | The tracer does not flow evenly through the testicles. This may be a sign of narrowing, blockage, or damage in the blood vessels in the testicles. This could mean that blood flow has been reduced by a twisted cord inside the testicle. This is called testicular torsion. |
| Areas where the tracer builds up in an abnormal amount could be a sign of a condition such as a cyst, a tumor, a pocket of infection (abscess), a blood clot, or swelling of the tubes (ducts) that carry sperm (epididymis). This swelling is called epididymitis. |
©2011-2026 Healthwise, Incorporated