Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
3D Ultrasound Imaging: Fast and Cost-effective Morphometry of Musculoskeletal Tissue
Published on: November 27, 2017
Testicular volume: comparison of orchidometer and US measurements in dogs
Harriet J Paltiel1, David A Diamond, James Di Canzio
1Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. harriet.paltiel@tch.harvard.edu
Purpose:
To compare the accuracy and precision of orchidometer and ultrasonographic (US) measurements of testicular volume in a canine model.
Materials And Methods:
Volume measurements of 18 canine testes were obtained by using Prader and Rochester orchidometers. Testes were scanned with two linear-array US transducers with imaging frequencies of 6-13 MHz and 5-10 MHz. For each transducer, testicular volumes were calculated by using three formulas: length (L) x width (W) x height (H) x 0.52, L x W(2) x 0.52, and L x W x H x 0.71. Testes were weighed following bilateral orchiectomies. True testicular volume was determined by using the formula volume = weight/density. Paired t tests were used to assess whether mean measurement biases differed significantly from zero. The relationship between true and measured volume was evaluated with a linear regression model.
Results:
US volume measurements demonstrated lower variability and better linear fit compared with orchidometry (R(2) = 0.75-0.90 vs R(2) = 0.14-0.38). The formula L x W x H x 0.71 had the smallest mean bias relative to true volume with use of either transducer over the entire volume range.
Conclusion:
US methods of testicular volume measurement are more accurate and precise than orchidometry. The formula L x W x H x 0.71 provides a superior estimate of testicular volume and should be used in clinical practice.
