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Scrotal Pathology pp 261–273Cite as

Imaging the Infertile Male-1: Varicocele

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Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

Color doppler ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate patients with varicocele. In order to assess correctly the extension of the disease and the characteristics of flow, the patient should be examined supine and while standing, at rest and during Valsalva’s maneuver. Several classification can be used to grade varicocele based on position of the dilated vessels and characteristics of flow. Besides color doppler ultrasound spectral analysis is important to assess reflux duration. Experimental studies showed that varicocele causes flow changes in the testicular flows, but investigation in men requires validation. While extratesticular varicocele is relatively common, intratesticular varicocele is rare. Abdominal masses may cause not compressible secondary varicocele. CT and MR imaging are usually not indicated for evaluation of varicocele, but this condition may be recognized in case of examinations performed for other purposes. Scintigraphy and thermography have no current clinical role, while venography is usually performed as a part of percutaneous sclerotherapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Urology, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, 34124, Trieste, Italy

    Giovanni Liguori, Stefano Bucci & Carlo Trombetta

  2. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Dubrava University Hospital, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Boris Brkljačić

  3. Department of Radiology, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, 34124, Trieste, Italy

    Michele Bertolotto

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  1. Giovanni Liguori
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  2. Stefano Bucci
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  3. Carlo Trombetta
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  4. Boris Brkljačić
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  5. Michele Bertolotto
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Correspondence to Michele Bertolotto .

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  1. Ospedale di Cattinara, Ist. Radiologia, Università Trieste, Strada di Fiume 149, Trieste, 34149, Italy

    Michele Bertolotto

  2. Ospedale di Cattinara, Department of Urology, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, Trieste, 34149, Italy

    Carlo Trombetta

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Liguori, G., Bucci, S., Trombetta, C., Brkljačić, B., Bertolotto, M. (2011). Imaging the Infertile Male-1: Varicocele. In: Bertolotto, M., Trombetta, C. (eds) Scrotal Pathology. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_191

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2011_191

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