Sertoli cells tumor (SCT) of dog testis: gray scale, color and power doppler ultrasonographic appearance.

The aim of this study has been to evaluate the importance of gray scale, color and power Doppler ultrasonographic imaging of SCT in dog. We analysed 50 proven SCT and ultrasonographic imaging were recorded. The age of the dogs ranged from five to 15 years (mean = 9 SD = ± 6). The study involved dogs of different breeds that were referred to our for signs associated with SCT (30%) as alopecia, gynecomastia, prostatic changes or sings unrelated to testicular neoplasia (70%). The ultrasonographic features considered were: size and echogenicity of the tumors, distribution maps of detectable blood flows on color power Doppler. Tumors ranged from 0.4 to 3 cm in diameter but mostly were from 1 to 1.5 cm (70%). The gray scale of the tumors varied depending on the size and focal or diffuse distribution of STC. The predominant pattern was hypoechoic (80%), mixed echogenicity (16%), isoechoic (4%). None of the tumors contained calcifications. 45 tumors had color Doppler imaging and showed a characteristic pattern of increased peripheral blood flow. In most of the cases (70%) the flow was only circumferential to the neoplastic mass, in the other (30%) the flow was also internal. With power Doppler the blood flow visualization was most sensitive. In conclusion the ultrasonographic examination of testis has shown to be useful for identification of the masses; beside the possibility of ultrasonographic identification of peripheral and internal hypervascularity is important to suspect the neoplastic character of the lesions.