Testicular Evaluation Using Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) in Patients with Varicocele

Overview

Journal J Imaging

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Radiology

Date 2023 Sep 27

PMID 37754930

Authors

Sandra Baleato-Gonzalez

Iria Osorio-Vazquez

Enrique Flores-Rios

Maria Isolina Santiago-Perez

Juan Pablo Laguna-Reyes

Roberto Garcia-Figueiras

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the possible influence of the presence of varicocele on the quantification of testicular stiffness.

Methods: Ultrasound with shear wave elastography (SWE) was performed on 48 consecutive patients (96 testicles) referred following urology consultation for different reasons. A total of 94 testes were studied and distributed in three groups: testes with varicocele (group A, n = 19), contralateral normal testes (group B; n = 13) and control group (group C, n = 62). Age, testicular volume and testicular parenchymal tissue stiffness values of the three groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.1 ± 11.1 years. The main reason for consultation was infertility (64.6%). The mean SWE value was 4 ± 0.4 kPa (kilopascal) in group A, 4 ± 0.5 kPa in group B and 4.2 ± 0.7 kPa in group C or control. The testicular volume was 15.8 ± 3.8 mL in group A, 16 ± 4.3 mL in group B and 16.4 ± 5.9 mL in group C. No statistically significant differences were found between the three groups in terms of age, testicular volume and tissue stiffness values.

Conclusion: Tissue stiffness values were higher in our control group (healthy testicles) than in patients with varicocele.

Citing Articles

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