title: Accuracy of Prader orchidometer in measuring testicular volume.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seminiferous tubules comprise 80-90% of testicular mass. Thus, the testicular volume is believed to be an index of spermatogenesis. Therefore, accurate testicular volume is one way to assess testicular function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy of Prader orchidometer for measuring the testicular volume by comparing the resultant measurement with the actual testicular volume in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The testicular volumes of 121 testes from 62 patients with prostate cancer (mean age 72.74 ± 9.38 years) were measured using Prader orchidometer before therapeutic bilateral orchidectomy. The actual testicular volumes were then determined by water displacement of the testis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean testicular volume of the 121 testes was 10.60 ± 3.5 ml and 13.26 ± 5.2 ml for water displacement and Prader orchidometer measurements, respectively. A strong correlation was found between the actual testicular volume and volumes obtained by Prader orchidometer ( r = 0.926, P = 0.0001). The Prader orchidometer however, over-estimated the mean actual testicular volume by 2.66 ± 2.37 ml (25.10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of this study has shown that measuring the testicular volume by Prader orchidometer overestimates the actual testicular volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T U
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Mbaeri
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Orakwe
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nwofor
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Oranusi
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Mbonu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*