Current management of the adolescent varicocele

Adolescents with varicoceles represent a large and heterogeneous group. This patient population has rapidly changing hormonal levels and may present at different stages of physical and pubertal development. At the same time, the adolescent varicocele is becoming a more widely appreciated and diagnosed entity with an estimated incidence of 15% to 29%. Although research into the pathophysiology and appropriate management is evolving, the implications of this disease for this age group are difficult to ascertain. Specifically, it remains unclear which patients need intervention and when the optimal time is to intervene. This review aims to clarify some of the controversy and to provide the most contemporary understanding of this disease entity.