Phleboliths in varicoceles presenting as spermatic cord mass.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the diagnosis and management of phleboliths in the dilated veins of a varicocele.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Two healthy patients in an academic andrology center.


METHODS
Two healthy patients undergoing evaluation and treatment of male factor infertility.


METHODS
Ultrasonography and varicocele repair.


METHODS
Improvement in male factor infertility.


RESULTS
One patient had a phlebolith diagnosed ultrasonographically by echogenicity and acoustic shadowing within a dilated vein of a varicocele. Another patient had a hard mass found within a dilated vein of a varicocele at the time of surgical repair.


CONCLUSIONS
A hard rounded mass within a spermatic vein identified at surgery or sonographically within the veins of the spermatic cord should be considered a phlebolith. Decisions regarding treatment depend on clinical presentation.
Lazarou
Stephen
S
Harvard Medical School, Division of Urology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. s_lazarou@yahoo.com
Reyes-Vallejo
Luis
L
Morgentaler
Abraham
A
D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*