Most of the epididymal lesions are erroneously diagnosed and treated as epididymitis in our clinical practice. Therefore this study was undertaken to analyze the usefulness of a combination of clinical, radiological, cytological and microbiological assessment in establishing the accurate diagnosis of epididymal lesion.

Aim

A study for clinical, ultrasonographic, cytological and microbiological assessment and their correlation with each other in establishing the accurate diagnosis of epididymal lesion..

Objectives        

 To assess the diagnostic significance of clinical, radiological, cytological and         microbiological methods and their correlation in establishing the accurate diagnosis of epididymal lesion.

Methodology

This cross–sectional study was carried out in Departments of Surgery, Radiology, Pathology and Microbiology, University College of Medical sciences and GTB Hospital over the period of 2 years. During this period, we were able to accommodate 75 patients in the study, who presented with  clinical features of epididymitis. Radiological assessment was done on the day of the first visit to the hospital. For cytological assessment ultrasound–guided FNAC and microbiological assessment was done from the aspirate remaining after making cytology slide.

Statistical analysis

Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical software. Kappa statistics was used to find the degree of agreement or concordance between clinical, radiological, cytological and microbiological findings.

Results

 Clinically 71 patients were diagnosed as Epididymitis. Radiologically, epididymitis was found in only 32 patients. Only in 38 patients out of 75, a definite diagnosis could be made on cytology. The microbiological examination did not give any positive results.

Conclusion

Epididymitis is a clinical diagnosis, which can be corroborated with a defined etiology through radiological, cytological and microbiological assessment.