title: Increased Body Mass Index in Men With Varicocele Is Associated With Larger Spermatic Vein Diameters When Supine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of body mass index (BMI) and spermatic vein diameters (SVDs) in men treated for varicocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fourteen men who underwent scrotal color duplex ultrasounds prior to microsurgical varicocelectomy were classified as normal (BMI = 18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9), or obese (≥30). SVDs were measured with and without Valsalva, standing and supine. SVD, pre- and postoperative semen analyses (SA) were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six (40.4%) men had normal BMI, 54 (47.3%) were overweight, and 14 (12.3%) were obese. Higher BMI was associated with smaller left testis volume and larger left SVD when supine (with and without Valsalva). The association was absent when standing. Men with higher BMI had smaller differences between their left SVD Valsalva diameters when standing vs supine. There were no differences among BMI classes for right SVD measurements, preoperative SA, and postoperative SA improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased BMI is associated with larger left SVD while supine, suggesting that increased abdominal pressure while recumbent may contribute to varicocele pathology in this population. Interestingly, as in the general population, a majority of the men were overweight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Bobby B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Najari
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schulster
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY. Electronic address: mgoldst@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D009929:Organ Size; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016683:Supine Position; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*