Korean J Urol.  2003 Jan;44(1):45-48.

Prevalence of Varicocele in Adolescents and Effect of Varicocele on the Testicular Volume

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea. ksleemd@dongguk.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate the current prevalence of varicocele and their effect on the testicular volume.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The relationship between testicular volume and the degree of varicocele, as classified by Dubin-Amelar, was evaluated in 1,281 Korean school boys, between 15 and 18 years of age. All examinations were carried out by a single urologist, and the testicular volume was measured in the upright posture using a Prader's orchidometer. All the boys were assessed for their previous medical history, family history.
RESULTS
There was a 12.9% prevalence of varicocele in the adolescents. The mean testicular volume in the control groups was 14.29+/-2.10ml on the left and 14.45+/-2.13ml on the right. Patients with left varicocele had a testicular volume of 13.09+/-2.34ml on the left and 13.24+/-2.32ml on the right. The testicular volume of patients with a grade I varicocele were similar to those in the control group. Patients with grade II and III varicoceles had significantly smaller testes than the control groups.
CONCLUSIONS
The reduction in testicular volume due to a varicocele correlated with the severity of the varicocele grade. Careful evaluation for testicular volume loss, and early surgical intervention, should be offered to adolescent patients with varicoceles.

Keyword

Varicocele; Prevalence; Testicular volume; Adolescents

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Humans
Posture
Prevalence*
Testis
Varicocele*
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