Abstract
Purpose Ultrasonography is a useful tool to measure testicular volume. According to the
European Society of Urogenital Radiology, the combination of testicular atrophy and
testicular microlithiasis (TML) is a risk factor for testicular cancer. Testicular
atrophy is defined as a volume of less than 12 ml. The aim of this study was to compare
testicular volume in patients with TML to patients with normal testicular tissue.
Materials and Methods From 2013 to 2015 we included a total of 91 adult patients with TML, and 91 adult
patients with normal testicular tissue as a control group. All patients underwent
scrotal B-mode ultrasound investigation including measurement of width, length and
height in both testicles. Testicular volume was calculated using the formula π/6×length×height×width.
Results The median age for patients with TML was 48 years (range: 19-94 years), and 48 years
(range: 20–75 years) in patients with normal tissue. No statistically significant
difference was found between total testicular volume (both testes) >30 ml in patients
with TML compared to patients without (OR 0.77 (95% CI 0.43-1.38, p=0.37). However,
patients with TML tended to have lower testicular volume compared to patients without
TML, when investigating testicular volume below 12 ml.
Conclusion Overall, no association was found between testicular volume and TML, but there was
a trend indicating that severe atrophy is often seen in patients with TML compared
to patients without TML. However, a significant difference was only found in testicular
volume ≤8 ml.
Key words
testicular volume - testicular microlithiasis - atrophy - ultrasonography
