Testicular Scan

Test Overview

A testicular scan uses a special camera to take pictures of the testicles after a radioactive tracer builds up in testicular tissues (nuclear medicine test).

During a testicular scan, the tracer is injected into a vein in your arm. It travels through your blood to the testicles. Parts of the testicles where the tracer builds up in abnormal amounts may be a sign of some types of tumors. The tracer may also show where there is a pocket of fluid (cyst) or infection (abscess).

A scan may be done in an emergency to find out the cause of sudden, painful swelling of a testicle. That problem can be caused by a twisted cord in the testicle. This condition is called testicular torsion. Get medical care and treatment right away if you have this problem.

Testicular ultrasound has largely replaced these scans to look for testicular torsion and tumors.