Ultrasonography of the stallion's scrotum is an informative diagnostic procedure that should be performed routinely on all breeding stallions. Ultrasound techniques have been used to evaluate the scrotum and internal genitalia in stallions for many years. Grayscale ultrasonography is a reliable tool for imaging testicular parenchyma, vaginal tunics, spermatic cord, and epididymis. It allows very accurate measurement of testicular dimensions that are important for calculating testicular volume and expected daily sperm production. Some pathological changes of the stallion testis, epididymis, and spermatic cord, such as testicular tumors, hydrocele, hematocele, pyocele, spermatocele, cysts, inguinal hernia, torsion of spermatic cord, and varicocele, are readily visualized. However, early stages of some pathological changes, such as testicular tumors, inflammation, or ischemia of various origins, are usually not detectable by this technique. Because many of these pathologies are associated with alteredvascularization or affected blood flow, diagnostic techniques that can objectively evaluate vasculature of stallion testes are needed. We have recently described the technique and application of grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) in evaluatingdistribution of blood vessels as well in obtaining objective measures of testicular blood flow. This technique was useful in obtaining objective measures of blood flow in the testicular artery as well as in assessing the general vascularization of the testes.
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