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TH
CONGRESS OF THE ESPU
S10-7 (P without presentation)
CUT-OFF VALUES FOR ASSESSING THE NEED
FOR VARICOCELECTOMY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL
OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
Donald VAGANÉE
1
, Frederik DAEMS
2
, Karen DE BAETS
3
, Rosina DEWAIDE
1
,
Tinne VAN DEN KEYBUS
1
, William AERTS
1
, Stefan DE WACHTER
3
and Gunter DE WIN
3
1) University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
- 2) University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,, Antwerpen, BELGIUM -
3) Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium, Department of Urology, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
PURPOSE
Peak retrograde flow(PRF) is associated with impaired growth of the testicle. It is reported no
improvement can be expected in testicular atrophy index(TAI) after the PRF transcends the value of
>38cm/s and is therefore used as cut-off value for varicocele repair. (Poon et al. J. Urol. 2010; 183:
731-734) Impaired growth of the testicle is expressed as a TAI>20% or volume difference >2ml.
(Diamond et al. J. Urol. 2007; 178: 1584-8) This study examines these cut-off values in adolescents
with a left-sided varicocele.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
From October 2012 till October 2016, we examined 692 adolescents aged 11 to 16 years.
Varicoceles were diagnosed clinically. Duplex ultrasonography was used to confirm varicoceles,
determine testicular dimensions and measure peak retrograde flow.
RESULTS
In this part of the study, we included 110(14,45%) adolescents with a left-sided varicele. Mean age
was 13,91±1,34. Median Tanner stage P and G were both 3.
25(22,7%) had a PRF>38cm/s. 38(34,5%) had a TAI>20%. 33(30%) had a testicular volume differ-
ence >2ml. 8(7,3%) had a PRF>38cm/s in combination with TAI>20%.
Chi-square showed no significant difference between adolescents with a PRF above or below
38cm/s for TAI>20%(p=0,804) or testicular volume difference >2ml(p=0,761).
CONCLUSIONS
The cut-off values for PRF, TAI and testicular volume difference >2ml were met in a minority of all
cases in our study population.
No statistically significant association between a PRF>38cm/s and a TAI>20% or testicular volume
difference >2ml could be found.