[Radionuclide scrotal imaging: an effective method for detecting varicocele].
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.
Chen
Di-Ping
DP
Department of Andrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, China. cdp1958@sina.com
Shao
Wei-Min
WM
Xu
Peng
P
Qin
Yong-De
YD
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*