Is routine scrotal ultrasound advantageous in infertile men?
OBJECTIVE
We determine the value of routine scrotal ultrasonography in the evaluation of male infertility.


METHODS
Scrotal color Doppler ultrasonography reports of 1,372 infertile men were reviewed to assess the prevalence of scrotal abnormalities and compared to clinical findings.


RESULTS
The prevalence of scrotal abnormalities was 38%. Testicular tumor was found in 0.5%, varicocele in 29.7%, testicular cyst in 0.7%, testicular microlithiasis in 0.9%, epididymal cyst in 7.6% and hydrocele in 3.2% of the cases. Overall, 67% of sonography findings were not evident on palpation, and only 1 of 7 testicular tumors was suspected. Of the varicoceles 60% were not found on physical examination. The rate of testicular tumors (1/200) was higher than that reported for the general European population (1/20,000).


CONCLUSIONS
Routine scrotal ultrasound provides valuable information in the diagnostic evaluation of infertile men and substantially more pathological conditions are detected compared to clinical palpation. The high prevalence of testicular malignancies underlines the clinical relevance of routine scrotal ultrasonography in infertile men.
Pierik
F H
FH
Department of Andrology, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Dohle
G R
GR
van Muiswinkel
J M
JM
Vreeburg
J T
JT
Weber
R F
RF
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012611:Scrotum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler