[Analysis of errors in imaging diagnosis of varicocele. Duplex sonography, plate thermography and phlebography]

Comparative investigations were done by duplex sonography, thermography and phlebography in 142 patients with 158 varicoceles. Verification of clinical varicoceles (130/158) was performed by duplex sonography in all cases and by thermography in 93%. Measurement errors were due to dorsally located varicoceles near the radix of the penis (3/130) and by small, two-sided varicoceles (6/130). Small subclinical varicoceles (28/158) were detected by real-time sonography in 89%, by Doppler sonography in 64%, and by thermography in 53%. In three patients with normal real-time sonography, subclinical varicoceles were found by Doppler sonography alone. The combination of both sonographic methods is highly sensitive for the detection of subclinical varicoceles and should be done in all cases without therapeutic results.