title: Serum levels of inhibin B in adolescents after varicocelelectomy: A long term follow up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the impact on adult's fertility of serum inhibin B levels in adolescent patients with idiopathic varicocele after minimally invasive surgical correction and to compare fluctuation of pituitary-testis hormonal values and testicular volumes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was carried out on a group adolescent patients (n=60) affected by idiopathic left varicocele (group V) and compared with control adolescents (n=40) in the Paediatric Surgery Section of Siena (from June 1993 till September 2013). Inhibin B levels and testicular volume before (T0) and after at 6 and 12 months from surgery (T1 and T2) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A positive correlation between testicular growth at T1 and T2 (P<0.001) was found. Linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between inhibin B levels and testicular volume (expressed as the sum of the right and left values) (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inhibin B levels are a valid marker for studying the effects of varicocele on the testicular function and confirm the necessity of early surgical correction for preventing the trophic testicular damage and male infertility.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molinaro
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerchia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Piazza Sergardi, 16, 52044 Cortona (AR) Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garzi
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Severi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Angotti
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Messina
keywords: Lung Sparing Surgery; intralobar pulmonary sequestration; pediatric thoracic surgery