596 Can the testicular parenchyma fibrosis be a predictor of testicular failure in the patients with varicocele?

Abstract

In the last years diffusion-weighted MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the testes was evaluated in order to detect fibrosis of the testicular parenchyma in the patients whose underwent varicocelectomy. The aim of this study was to describe our preliminary experience in the use of the MRI for the patients with varicocele. From June 2016 to December 2016 we recruited 10 consecutive patients with varicocele and 10 healthy control volunteers. All patients exhibited unilateral varicocele and oligoastenozoospermia. All patients and control volunteers underwent an MRI examination using a 1.5 T unit. The mean±DS ADC (Apparent Diffusion Coefficient) values were classified for testicles with varicocele (Group 1), testicles contralateral to varicocele (Group 2) and testicles of the control volunteers (Group 3). 5 out of 10 patient in the group 1 had a grade 2 of varicocele (Group 1a) and 5 out of 10 patient had a grade 3 or higher of varicocele (Group 1b). 4 out of 10 patient in the group 1 significantly improved their seminal parameters at six months follow-up without any medical therapy (group 1c) and 6 out of 10 patient in the group 1 did not significantly improved their seminal parameters (group 1d).