The Role of Sonoelastography in the Evaluation of Testes With Varicocele

To evaluate the role of elastosonography in the evaluation of testicular elasticity as a predictive sign of testicular damage in patients with varicocele.

Between December 2010 and December 2014, we evaluated patients with varicocele by sonoelastography (SE) of the testes. We created 3 groups: group A included patients with untreated varicocele; group B, patients treated with the same technique; and group C, healthy age-matched patients without varicocele. All patients underwent SE for the evaluation of testicular stiffness and results were graded from 1 to 3 following the color scale grading.

During the study period, 36 boys (9-16 years old) with untreated varicocele, 47 treated patients, and 24 age-matched healthy subjects underwent control visit for varicocele and SE. All right testes of all groups were scored as 1, whereas testes with varicocele were stiffer than normal; all hypotrophies were scored as 3, whereas not all testes that were scored 3 were associated with testicular hypotrophy. There was a significant and statistical recovery rate of the testicular volume and the sonoelastographic score after surgery.

Testes with varicocele are significantly stiffer than normal ones. All testes with testicular hypotrophy had grade 3 sonoelastographic scores, but not all patients with a grade 3 score have testicular hypotrophy or continuous spermatic vein reflux. Our results show that sonoelasography can play a significant role in the evaluation of testicular elasticity as a predictive sign of testicular damage.