title: Testicular microlithiasis: analysis of prevalence and associated testicular cancer in central-eastern Sicilian andrological patients.
abstract: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis (TM) in central-eastern Sicilian men and to evaluate the association between TM and testicular tumour or infertility. A total of 1056 Sicilian patients underwent scrotal US between 2005 and 2010. TM was found in 106 men with an overall prevalence of 10%; roughly about four times the median prevalence reported in the previous studies (0.6-18.1%). Forty men (3.8%) had a classic TM, whereas 66 (6.2%) had a limited TM. The prevalence of testicular tumour in this cohort was 2.4% (25/1056). At the moment when the testicular tumour was diagnosed, 15 patients (60%) had TM. There was a significant difference (P < 0.01) between the rate of malignancy in men with TM (15/106; 14.2%) and that in men without TM (10/950; 1.1%) with an odds ratio = 16. The prevalence of TM among infertile patients was 18.8%. These data may relate to an increased awareness towards scrotal US examination and/or to the use of more sensitive equipments. The elevated rate of testicular malignancy in men with TM suggests that this US feature may be regarded as a risk factor for testicular tumour.
authors: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Catania University, Catania, Italy. sandrolavignera@email.it
authors: S
authors: S
authors: La Vignera
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Condorelli
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Vicari
authors: R
authors: R
authors: D'Agata
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Calogero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult