Inter-observer variation in the results of the clinical andrological examination including estimation of testicular size.
Inter-observer variation in andrological examination by 10 clinical investigators from five Nordic and Baltic countries was investigated. In addition, information on intra-observer variation was obtained for six of the 10 investigators. Testicular size was measured using Prader's orchidometer and one of the investigators also performed an ultrasound estimate of testicular size. A highly significant difference (p < 0.001) between observers was found with an inter-observer error of 16% in estimating testicular size in 23 young men. The difference in the estimate tended to increase with increasing testicular size. There was no significant intra-observer difference in two measurements performed on consecutive days. Only differences in median testis size, which were greater than 31% between measurements by two investigators, were found to be significant at the 5% level. The ultrasound estimate of testicular size was significantly lower than the orchidometer estimate, with a mean difference of 3.6 mL for the left testis and 4.3 mL for the right testis. Tanner staging of genitalia and diagnosis of a varicocele was subject to great inter-observer variation, and for the diagnosis of varicocele only one-third of the investigators was able to reproduce their results on a second examination. In conclusion, it was found that the clinical andrological examination of young men is subject to great inter-observer variation. This should be kept in mind when results from different studies are compared as well as in daily clinical practice.
Carlsen
E
E
Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. rh03732@rh.dk
Andersen
A G
AG
Buchreitz
L
L
Jørgensen
N
N
Magnus
O
O
Matulevicuus
V
V
Nermoen
I
I
Petersen
J H
JH
Punab
M
M
Suominen
J
J
Zilaitiene
B
B
Giwercman
A
A
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014572:Urology