Ultrasonographic diagnosis of unilateral scrotal hernia, varicocele and sperm granuloma in a ram.

摘要

A four-year-old ram with conspicuous hemilateral scrotal enlargement for four weeks is reported at the Veterinary Faculty Hospital, University of Zaragosa, Spain. A left scrotal hernia was diagnosed based on the history, clinical signs, palpation, trans-scrotal ultrasonography and semen collection. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a presumably omental fat scrotal hernia with an atrophic left testis and varicocele, and the presence of two sperm cysts could be observed in the right epididymal tail. The testis appeared as a homogeneous and moderately echogenic structure and it was possible to observe atrophy of the left testis that was covered by a hyperechoic area, presumably omental fat, within the hernial sac. Ultrasound examination revealed non-echogenic tortuous areas and were diagnosed as varicocele. Postmortem examination by ultrasonography confirmed gross lesions. The libido of the ram was normal, but the semen showed total azoospermia. It is concluded that ultrasound imaging can be used as a diagnostic technique to confirm the diagnosis of scrotal hernia, varicocele, sperm cyst and testis mineralization.