title: [Radionuclide scrotal imaging: an effective method for detecting varicocele].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate radionuclide scrotal imaging (RSI) in the diagnosis of varicocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed physical examination (PE) and RSI for 126 patients with infertility for at least 12 months and seminal abnormality, obtained the scrotal blood-pool index (SBPI), observed the reflux in the spermatic vein during RSI, typed and graded varicocele by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and compared the results of PE and RSI with those of CDFI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rates of sensitivity and specificity of RSI in the diagnosis of varicocele (96.5% and 97.1%) were both higher than those of PE (71.7% and 69.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple, accurate and noninvasive, RSI is an effective method for the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical varicocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Andrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, China. cdp1958@sina.com
authors.forename: Di-Ping
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yong-De
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011875:Radionuclide Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012611:Scrotum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*