Abstract
Objective To improve the understanding of the implications of testicular microlithiasis(TM) in paediatric patients by summarizing the clinical characteristics of TM. Methods One hundred and eighteen boys diagnosed as TM based on ultrasound between March 2006 and December 2014 at Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University were retrospectively reviewed.Demographic data, imaging data, indications for ultrasound, associated inguinoscrotal pathologies and follow-up data were collected. Results There were 118 cases of patients aged from 0.25 to 14.00 years(averaging 7.98 years). The indication for ultrasound included health check(22 cases), testicular discomfort(28 cases), small testes(6 cases), scrotal mass(10 cases), with history of cryptorchidism(36 cases), with history of hydrocele(15 cases). Concomitant diseases included congenital anomaly of testis in 44 cases[cryptorchidism(34 cases), testicular absence(4 cases), testicular hypoplasia(6 cases)], hydrocele of tunica vaginalis or hernia(15 cases), testicular epididymitis(12 cases), varicocele(6 cases), epididymal cyst(5 cases), testicular teratomas(2 cases), adrenal cortical hyperplasia(1 case), testicular torsion(1 case), and none associated disease(32 cases). Bilateral TM was in 87 cases(the typical TM in 38 cases, limited TM in 49 cases), while unilateral TM was in 31 cases(the typical TM in 8 cases, limited TM in 23 cases). Fifty-three cases were followed up for 1 month to 36 months(averaging 12.5 months), and the condition was stable, no testicular malignancy was observed during follow-up. Conclusions The TM in children is not a rare disease.The etiology of TM is not clear and there are no special clinical symptoms.TM is often associated with testicular abnormality in pediatric patients and the correlation between children′s TM and adult testicular tumor can not be determined yet.The distribution and involving degree of TM is stable in the short term with infrequent testiculoma, but an appropriate follow-up scheme is required, especially during and after puberty. Key words: Child; Testis; Microlithiasis; Sonography
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