Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer For Medicare For Providers For Brokers For Employers Español For Individuals & Families: For Individuals & Families Medical Dental Other Supplemental Explore coverage through work How to Buy Health Insurance Types of Dental Insurance Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment See all topics Shop for Medicare plans Member Guide Find a Doctor Log in to myCigna
Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library Testicular Scan

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.

Why It Is Done

Why It Is Done

A testicular scan is done to find out the cause of a painful, swollen testicle. The scan is also used to check for damage to the testicles caused by an injury or to look at the flow of blood within the testicles.

How To Prepare

How To Prepare

In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to.

How It Is Done

How It Is Done

You will need to remove any jewelry that might get in the way of the scan. You may need to take off all or most of your clothes. You will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the test.

The technologist cleans the site on your arm where the radioactive tracer will be injected. A small amount of the tracer is then injected.

You will lie on your back on a table. Your penis will be taped to your belly to keep it out of the way of the scan. A sling or towel may be used to support the testicles under the scanner. After the tracer is injected, the camera will scan for radiation released by the tracer. The camera produces pictures of the tracer in your testicles. Two scans are done about 15 minutes apart. You need to lie very still during each scan to avoid blurring the pictures. The camera does not produce any radiation. You are not exposed to any more radiation while the scan is being done.

How long the test takes

The scan takes about 45 minutes.

How It Feels

How It Feels

You may feel nothing at all from the needle puncture when the tracer is injected. Or you may feel a brief sting or pinch as the needle goes through the skin. Otherwise, a testicular scan is usually painless. You may find it hard to stay still during the scan, especially if your testicles are sore. Before the scan, ask for a pillow or blanket to make yourself as comfortable as possible.

Risks

Risks

Allergic reactions to the radioactive tracer are rare.

Anytime you're exposed to radiation, there's a small chance of damage to cells or tissue. That's the case even with the low-level radioactive tracer used for this test. But the chance of damage is very low compared with the benefits of the test.

Steps you can take

Most of the tracer will leave your body through your urine or stool within a day. So be sure to flush the toilet right after you use it, and wash your hands well with soap and water. The amount of radiation in the tracer is very small. This means it isn't a risk for people to be around you after the test.

You may get some soreness or swelling at the injection site. This can usually be relieved by putting a warm, moist cloth on your arm.

Results

Results

The results of the scan are usually available within 2 days. In an emergency, results can be ready within 1 hour.

Testicular scan

Normal:

The radioactive tracer flows evenly through the testicles. The tracer does not build up in any area of the testicles.

Abnormal:

The tracer does not flow evenly through the testicles. This may be a sign of narrowing, blockage, or damage in the blood vessels in the testicles. This could mean that blood flow has been reduced by a twisted cord inside the testicle. This is called testicular torsion.

Areas where the tracer builds up in an abnormal amount could be a sign of a condition such as a cyst, a tumor, a pocket of infection (abscess), a blood clot, or swelling of the tubes (ducts) that carry sperm (epididymis). This swelling is called epididymitis.

Current as of: July 26, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

© 2024 Ignite Healthwise, LLC. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

Related Links

Nuclear Medicine Scan Medical Tests: Questions to Ask the Doctor

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

I want to...

Get an ID card File a claim View my claims and EOBs Check coverage under my plan See prescription drug list Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility Find a form Find 1095-B tax form information View the Cigna Glossary Contact Cigna

Audiences

Individuals and Families Medicare Employers Brokers Providers

Secure Member Sites

myCigna member portal Health Care Provider portal Cigna for Employers Client Resource Portal Cigna for Brokers

The Cigna Group Information

About Cigna Healthcare Company Profile Careers Newsroom Investors Suppliers The Cigna Group Third Party Administrators International Evernorth

 Cigna. All rights reserved.

Privacy Legal Product Disclosures Cigna Company Names Customer Rights Accessibility Non-Discrimination Notice Language Assistance [PDF] Report Fraud Sitemap Cookie Settings

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details