Abstract
The relationship between varicocele and infertility has long been defined. About a third of the male patients undergoing evaluation for infertility present with a varicocele. Sixty male patients between 17 and 35 years of age (mean 25.6) were examined with a colour-doppler flow imaging system. The diameters of the veins in the pampiniform plexus were measured by gray-scale sonography.
Our findings were classified with regard to venous diameter, the existence or non-existence of reflux, the circumstances under which these findings were recorded (e.g. during normal respiration and standing position or during Valsalva manoeuvre and supine position). Finally our results suggest that: (a) the clinical significance of the presence of dilated veins or reflux during increased intraabdominal pressure and under similar circumstances should be regarded with caution; (b) positive findings during normal inspirium are highly significant (grades III and IV).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Greenberg, S. H., Lipshultz, L. L.: Varicocele and male infertility. Fertil. Steril., 28, 699 (1977).
Mc Clure, R. D.: Male infertility. In: Mc Clure, R. D., Tanago, E. A., Mc Aninch, J. W. (eds): Smith's General Urology. 14th ed. chapt. 43. Appleton-Lange A Simon-Schuster Co., Middle East, 1995, pp. 675-688.
Pyror, J. L.: Male infertility. Urol. Clin. North Am., 14,(3) (1987).
Belker, A. M.: The varicocele and male infertility. Urol. Clin. North Am., 8, 41 (1981).
Amelar, R., Dubin, L.: Right varicocelectomy in selected infertile patients who have failed to improve after previous left varicocelectomy. Fertil. Steril., 47, 833 (1987).
Cockett, A. T. K., Takihara, H.: The varicocele. Fertil. Steril., 41, 5 (1987).
Rodriques-Rigau, L. J., Smith, K. D.: Relationship of varicocele to sperm output and fertility of male partners in infertile couples. J. Urol., 120, 691 (1978).
Cvitanic, O. A., Cronan, J. J.: Varicoceles: Postoperative prevalence — A prospective study with color doppler US. Radiology, 187, 711 (1993).
Sigman, M., Howards, S. S.: Male infertility. In: P. C. Walsh, A. B. Retik, T. A. Stamey, E. D. Vaughan (eds): Campbell's Urology. Vol. 1, chapter 15. W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia 1992, pp. 659-693.
Mc Clure, R. D., Hricak, H.: Scrotal ultrasound in the infertile man: Detection of subclinical unilateral and bilateral varicoceles. J. Urol., 135, 711 (1986).
Comphaire, F. H.: Varicocele and its role in male infertility. In: Clarke, J. R. (ed.): Oxford Reviews of Reproductive Biology. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1986, pp. 165-213.
Amelar, R. D., Dubin, L.: Therapeutic implications of left, right and bilateral varicocelectomy. Urology, 30, 53 (1987).
Bsat, F., Basabni, R.: Effectiveness of varicocelectomy in varicoceles diagnosed by physical examination versus Doppler studies. Fertil. Steril., 50, 321 (1988).
Dhabuwala, C., Hamid, S.: Clinical versus subclinical varicocelectomy. Fertil. Steril., 57, 854 (1992).
Gonda, R. L., Karo, J. J.: Diagnosis of subclinical varicocele in infertility. AJR, 148, 71 (1987).
Hirsh, A. V., Cameron, K. M.: The doppler assessment of varicocele and internal spermatic vein reflux in infertile men. Br. J. Urol., 52, 50 (1980).
Howards, S. S.: Subclinical varicocele. Fertil. Steril., 57, 725 (1992).
Mc Clure, R. D., Khoo, O.: Subclinical varicocele: The effectiveness of varicocelectomy. J. Urol., 145, 789 (1991).
Sigmund, G., Gall, H.: Stop-type and shunt-type varicoceles: Venographic findings. Radiology, 163, 105 (1987).
Nobuyuk, K., Norio, M.: Significance of subclinical varicocele detected by scrotal sonography in male infertility. A preliminary report. J. Urol., 150, 1158 (1993).
Rodriques-Netto: Varicocele: The value of reflux in the spermatic vein. Int. J. Fertil., 25, 71 (1980).
Farris, B. L., Fenner, D. K.: Seminal characteristics in the presence of varicoceles as compared with those of expectant fathers and prevasectomy men. Fertil. Steril., 35, 325 (1981).
Perrin, P., Rollet, J.: The doppler stethoscope in the diagnosis of subclinical varicocele. Br. J. Urol., 52, 390 (1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Resim, S., Çek, M., Fazlioğlu, A. et al. Echo-Colour Doppler Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Varicocele. Int Urol Nephrol 31, 371–382 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007182304770
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007182304770