title: Echo-colour doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of varicocele.
abstract: The relationship between varicocele and infertility has long been defined. About a third of the male patients undergoing evaluation for infertility present with a varicocele. Sixty male patients between 17 and 35 years of age (mean 25.6) were examined with a colour-doppler flow imaging system. The diameters of the veins in the pampiniform plexus were measured by gray-scale sonography. Our findings were classified with regard to venous diameter, the existence or non-existence of reflux, the circumstances under which these findings were recorded (e.g. during normal respiration and standing position or during Valsalva manoeuvre and supine position). Finally our results suggest that: (a) the clinical significance of the presence of dilated veins or reflux during increased intraabdominal pressure and under similar circumstances should be regarded with caution; (b) positive findings during normal inspirium are highly significant (grades III and IV).
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Vakif Gureba Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fazlioğlu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caşkurlu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gürbüz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sevin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014646:Varicocele / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology