title: The differences in testicular volumes in boys 8-36 months old with undescended, retractile and hydrocele testis--usefulness of scrotal screening ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was quantitative and qualitative assessments of scrotal abnormalities diagnosed in boys 8 to 36 months old during ultrasound screening and estimation if these abnormalities influence testes volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  High frequency scrotal ultrasound was performed in 1448 patients aged 8-36 months as additional exam during screening ultrasound program for children including cervical and abdominal ultrasound. The mean age of examined boys was 17 months. For further analysis the children were divided in 5 age groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The abnormalities in scrotal ultrasound were found in 20.1% of boys. Undescended, cryptorchid testes were found in 4.8% of patients, mobile testicle in 7.6% and hydrocele in 2.8%. The volume of undescended testes was statistically lower than volume of the descended testes in 3 youngest groups of boys (p=0.003-0.011). The volume of mobile testicles did not increase with age, while in patients with hydrocele the testicular volume decreased with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scrotal screening ultrasound performed in boys up to 3 years old may deliver information about the number and type of existing pathologies as well as their influence on the testicular volume. The volume of the pathological testes was lower than the volume of the normal ones. Improper growth of testes may potentially have important clinical implication for the function of testes in the future.
authors: Department of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland. gjedrzejewski@wp.pl
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Jedrzejewski
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Wozniak
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Madej
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Kryza
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Zielonka-Lamparska
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Wieczorek
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012611:Scrotum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography