Association between testicular microlithiasis, testicular cancer, cryptorchidism and history of ascending testis.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively determine the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in symptomatic patients who were referred for scrotal ultrasound examination and to evaluate the possible association of testicular microlithiasis with testicular cancer and other conditions such as cryptorchidism or history of ascending testis.


METHODS
391 men who were referred to our institutions between July 2002 and May 2005 for any type of symptoms from the testicles, underwent physical and scrotal ultrasound examination. The presence of testicular microlithiasis, the number of lesions and the involvement of both testicles in relation to the symptoms as well as the coexistence of other lesions were studied.


RESULTS
Eighteen (4.6%) of 391 men enrolled into the study had testicular microlithiasis. Two out of the eighteen patients (11%) had concomitant testicular cancer, which was confirmed by pathological evaluation of the orchidectomy specimen. One of the patients with testicular microlithiasis presented a rising in biochemical tumor markers (LDH, and HCG) and underwent orchidectomy one year later. Five of the remaining 373 (1.3%) patients without microlithiasis were diagnosed with testicular cancer. Thirty six men reported having a history of ascending testis, but none of them was found with testicular cancer. Two cases of testicular torsion in a cryptorchid position had testicular microlithiasis, but the orchidectomy specimen (after surgery) was negative for testicular cancer. The correlation between testicular cancer and testicular microlithiasis found in our study was statistically significant (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There seems to be an association between testicular microlithiasis and testicular cancer.
Konstantinos
Stamatiou
S
Department of Urology, Tzaneion General Hospital, Athens, Greece. alvise@tellas.gr
Alevizos
Alevizos
A
Anargiros
Mariolis
M
Constantinos
Mihas
M
Athanase
Halazonitis
H
Konstantinos
Bovis
B
Michail
Eleftherios
E
Fragiskos
Sofras
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D045022:Lactate Dehydrogenases / Q000032:analysis; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012611:Scrotum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D045022:Lactate Dehydrogenases