title: Testicular volume and testicular microlithiasis in boys with Down syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have suggested that testicular microlithiasis and Down syndrome are linked, yet a correlation remains unclear. We investigated the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in patients with Down syndrome. We hypothesized that testicular microlithiasis is present at a higher rate in these patients. We further hypothesized that patients with Down syndrome have lower testicular volumes than normal age matched boys. We tested our hypothesis by ultrasound investigation in boys 0 to 18 years old with Down syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testicular ultrasound was performed in 79 boys with Down syndrome. Mean patient age was 8.8 years (range 0.4 to 18.3). Testicular microlithiasis was assessed and testicular volume was measured according to the formula, π/6 × length × width × height.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testicular microlithiasis was present in 18 boys (22.8%). It was diagnosed in 6 of 28 boys younger than 7 years (21.4%), in 6 of 28 boys 7 to 12 years (21.4%) and in 6 of 23 boys 12 years or older (26.1%). No significant difference was found in the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis between these 3 groups. Mean testicular volumes in patients with Down syndrome (2.19 ml) were significantly smaller than the normative values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated a 22.8% prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in boys with Down syndrome, which is significantly increased compared to normative values. In addition, testis volume is significantly smaller in boys with Down syndrome compared to normative values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands. j.goede@mca.nl
authors.forename: Joery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goede
authors.forename: Michel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Weijerman
authors.forename: Chantal J M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Broers
authors.forename: J Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de Winter
authors.forename: Laszla M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: van der Voort-Doedens
authors.forename: Wilfried W M
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Hack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009929:Organ Size; D015995:Prevalence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography