[The assessment of varicocele by ultrasound].

OBJECTIVE

Evaluating the utility that has the scrotal ultrasound in the patient with varicocele.

METHODS

34 patients with varicocele, 28 unilateral, y 6 bilateral, 9 right and 31 left, was evaluated by means of scrotal ultrasound in high-resolution real-time united, we utilized an ATL with transducers 7-12 Mhz. The age oscillates between 13-36 years. Five patient adolescent went for pain, 23 infertile patients, and 6 adults for pain/or discomfort scrotal.

RESULTS

For ultrasound we observed 10/40 testicular atrophy, the texture was homogeneous 35/40. Five testicles had decrease of the echogenicity. The ultrasound confirms varicocele in the clinical cases 31/31, we detect 3/9 subclinical. The images that were gotten being the of a group of 2 or 3 tubular structures, or liquid cords dilated of a diameter between 1.5 and 2 mm in the subclinical, and superior to 2 mm in the clinical, or one greater of 3 mm, located in the cord or in the groin canal, up and behind of the head of the epididymis, in the voluminous cases could be observed behind and below the testicle.

CONCLUSIONS

The scrotal ultrasound is an adequate method, rapid, easy not obnoxious, useful in the evaluation preoperative and postoperative of the varicocele.