Histological findings in testes with varicocele during childhood and their therapeutic consequences

Contrary to widespread opinion, varicocele is a common disorder in children and can be seen in 10-year-old boys. The peak incidence of varicocele is reached at 15 years. Usually the disorder remains asymptomatic and is overlooked. Over 5 years we observed 22 boys with varicocele. Testicular biopsy carried out in 10 of them demonstrated essentially the same changes of tubules, interstitium and blood vessels seen in adults, though in a less severe form. Surgical removal of varicocele should therefore be carried out during childhood as soon after diagnosis as possible, regardless of degree of severity and the presence or absence of symptoms. This averts the danger of progressive and irreversible damage to the testes. The argument that infertility does not necessarily result in each case of varicocele is probably not relevant due to the uncertainty involved in an individual case. The high risk of later infertility should be compared with the low risk of surgery during childhood.