title: Magnetization transfer imaging of normal and abnormal testis: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to determine the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of normal testes, possible variations with age and to assess the feasibility of MTR in characterizing various testicular lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six men were included. A three-dimensional gradient-echo MT sequence was performed, with/without an on-resonance binomial prepulse. MTR was calculated as: (SIo-SIm)/(SIo) × 100 %, where SIm and SIo refers to signal intensities with and without the saturation pulse, respectively. Subjects were classified as: group 1, 20-39 years; group 2, 40-65 years; and group 3, older than 65 years of age. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the least significant difference test was used to assess variations of MTR with age. Comparison between the MTR of normal testis, malignant and benign testicular lesions was performed using independent-samples t testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ANOVA revealed differences of MTR between age groups (F = 7.51, P = 0.001). Significant differences between groups 1, 2 (P = 0.011) and 1, 3 (P < 0.001) were found, but not between 2, 3 (P = 0.082). The MTR (in percent) of testicular carcinomas was 55.0 ± 3.2, significantly higher than that of benign lesions (50.3 ± 4.0, P = 0.02) and of normal testes (47.4 ± 2.2, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTR of normal testes decreases with age. MTR might be helpful in the diagnostic work-up of testicular lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTR of normal testes shows age-related changes. Testicular carcinomas have high MTR values. MTR may be useful in the diagnostic work-up of testicular lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. a_tsili@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Athina C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tsili
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. alexdorkou@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ntorkou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. dbaltog@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baltogiannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. anasylakos@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sylakos
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. s.sotiris@yahoo.com.|Department of Urology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Leoforos S. Niarchou, 45500, Ioannina, Greece. s.sotiris@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stavrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. astrakas@uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Loukas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Astrakas
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. vmaliax@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maliakas
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. akrosnin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sofikitis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. margyrop@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Argyropoulou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004823:Epididymitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis; D009920:Orchitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Germ cells; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetization transfer contrast imaging; Testes; Testicular neoplasms