1Department of Diagnositc Radiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Korea. 2Department of Pathology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Korea.
Published online: January 1, 2001.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical importance of the testicular microlithiasis (TM), we retrospectively analyzed the spectrum of sonographic patterns and associated clinical features. MATERIALS & METHODS: The cases of 12 patients with the characteristic appearance of TM on sonography were retrospectively evaluated for the number of echogenic foci (minimal pattern; below 10 foci on a single image, moderate pattern; from 10 to 60 foci on a single image, severe pattern; more than 60 foci on a single image), Medical and pathologic records of patients were examined to evaluate associated disease. Their ages ranged from 9 to 68 years (mean age 34.7 years). RESULTS: Of 12 patients, four patients had minimal sonographic pattern (mean age 47 years), two had moderate (28 years), and six had severe (25.3 years). Associated disease revealed impotence (two cases), varicocele (two cases), epididymoorchitis (three cases), teratoma (one case), infertility (one case). Three cases are not associated with other disease. In two of 6 patients with severe sonographic pattern, one had intratesticular teratoma, and another had infertility. CONCLUSION: TM has a characteristic sonographlc pattern, but variation exists in the number of echogenic foci. The association has questions concerning the frequency of occurrence of tumor and infertility when severe sonographic pattern is identified. However, in our cases, testicular tumor and infertility occurred in young man and in severe sonographic pattern. In this condition, close observation is needed.
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