The influence of clinical and subclinical varicocele on testicular volume.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the possible loss of testicular volume in infertile men with clinical and subclinical varicocele by using ultrasound (US)-derived measurements of testicular volume.


METHODS
Retrospective review of clinical and scrotal US reports.


METHODS
University infertility clinic.


METHODS
Infertile men (n = 404) presenting for evaluation from 1992 to 1996.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Presence of clinical or subclinical varicocele, US-derived measurements of testicular volume.


RESULTS
In men with clinical left or subclinical left varicocele, left testicular volume was significantly less than right testicular volume (12.9 versus 14.1 and 13.2 versus 14.7 mL, respectively). This finding was not observed in men with bilateral clinical or bilateral subclinical varicoceles or in men without varicocele.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data confirm previous reports showing that a clinical left varicocele can negatively impact on left testicular volume and for the first time show that a subclinical varicocele is also associated with decreased left testicular volume.
Zini
A
A
Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Buckspan
M
M
Berardinucci
D
D
Jarvi
K
K
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012611:Scrotum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013737:Testis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014646:Varicocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*