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Intratesticular Varicocele
Author(s) -
Tétreau Raphaël,
Julian Philippe,
Lyonnet Denis,
Rouvière Olivier
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2007.26.12.1767
Subject(s) - medicine , varicocele , valsalva maneuver , testicular atrophy , genitourinary system , atrophy , radiology , testicular volume , color doppler , ultrasonography , surgery , pathology , anatomy , infertility , blood pressure , pregnancy , genetics , hormone , biology , secondary sex characteristic
Objectives Intratesticular varicocele (ITV) is an uncommon sonographic finding with controversial data concerning its prevalence and physiopathologic characteristics. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of ITV in a urogenital imaging department and to describe its sonographic features. Methods All identified cases of ITV were prospectively collected in the same imaging department. Results Intratesticular dilated veins (>2 mm) with a positive response to the Valsalva maneuver were referred to as ITV. Nine cases of ITV were detected in 8 patients (mean age, 60 years; range, 30–85 years) in a series of 1832 scrotal sonographic examinations performed over 5 years (0.4%). A history of homolateral scrotal surgery was found in 5 cases. In most cases, ITV was left sided (6/9) and located in the mediastinum testis (6/9) with associated extratesticular varicocele (8/9) and testicular hypotrophy (7/9). Five of the 7 hypotrophic testes had other causes of hypotrophy. Conclusions Although variations do exist in the sonographic appearance of ITV, its specific sonographic and Doppler appearance should enable the radiologist to obviate further study. Intratesticular varicocele is often associated with ipsilateral testicular atrophy, but whether it is a cause or a consequence of testicular atrophy remains unclear.