Effects of varicocele on testicles: Value of strain elastography: A prospective controlled study.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural changes in testicles of the patients with varicocele by strain elastography (SE) and to identify the relationship between semen analysis and hormone levels considering SE results. The patients were separated into two groups as varicocele and control, according to their physical examination and the scrotal colour duplex ultrasonography results. All patients underwent examination by hormonal profile, semen analysis, colour duplex ultrasonography and sonoelastography. Testicular volume, resistive index (RI) of intratesticular arterial flow, strain rate and varicocele measurements were recorded. The left testicle strain ratios (SR) median value was 0.18 (0.15-0.26) in the varicocele group and 0.25 (0.19-0.28) in the control group (p<0.001). The median RI value was 0.59 (0.52-0.64) in the varicocele group and 0.52 (0.5-0.59) in the control group (p<0.001). No difference was found considering volume between the right and left testicles in either group. These results showed that elastography could be useful to detect the damage caused by varicocele on testicles in early period. However, studies with more patients would help to increase elastography's value and reliability.