Korean J Urol.  2011 Mar;52(3):172-177.

Testicular Microlithiasis: Prevalence and Clinical Significance in a Population Referred for Scrotal Ultrasonography

• Yee WS
• Kim YS
• Kim SJ
• Choi JB
• Kim SI
• Ahn HS

Abstract

PURPOSE
Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is an uncommon pathologic condition that is commonly diagnosed by scrotal ultrasonography. Indirect evidence suggests that this syndrome may be associated with an increased risk of testicular malignancy and infertility.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 1,439 patients undergoing scrotal ultrasound during a 6-year, 5-month period (January 2003 to May 2009) were retrospectively reviewed. Any possible association of TM with pathologic findings was assessed. Among patients with TM, further grading of TM with testicular cancer and semen analysis of the infertile group with TM were also performed.
RESULTS
TM was diagnosed in 87 patients (6.0%) out of a total of 1,439. Of all established pathologic entities, only testicular malignancy and infertility were meaningfully associated with TM. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of testicular cancer between each grade. Seminal profiles (sperm count, motility, morphology, and white blood cell count) were not found to be statistically different between infertile men with and without TM.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of TM in symptomatic men was found to be 6.0% with significant co-occurrence of TM, testicular cancer, and infertility. Further grading of TM does not seem to be essential with regard to the detection of patients with testicular cancer and TM. TM showed no significant effect on the seminal profiles of infertile men.

Keyword

Infertility; Neoplasms; Testis

MeSH Terms

Calculi
Humans
Infertility
Leukocytes
Male
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Semen Analysis
Testicular Diseases
Testicular Neoplasms
Testis
Calculi
Testicular Diseases

Figure

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  FIG. 1 Ultrasonographic image of testicular microlithiasis: limited.

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  FIG. 2 Ultrasonographic image of testicular microlithiasis: grade 1.

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  FIG. 3 Ultrasonographic image of testicular microlithiasis: grade 2.

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  FIG. 4 Ultrasonographic image of testicular microlithiasis: grade 3.

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  FIG. 5 Flow chart of study population. TM: testicular microlithiasis.

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