Testes Parenchymal Shear Wave Elastography Findings in Varicocele

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the testicular parenchymal changes in patients with varicocele using shear wave elastography (SWE).

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: Department of Radiology, Hatay Mustafa Kemal, School of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey, between June and August 2021.

Methodology: The study was conducted on 124 testes of 62 patients who had undergone scrotal ultrasonography. Using the SWE technique, the mean velocity and stiffness values of each testis were measured and recorded, and varicocele volume was calculated by measuring testis volume and the Pampiniform plexus (pp) vein diameter on Doppler examination. After the exclusion criteria, 55 (44.3%) testes with varicocele and 69 (55.6%) testes without varicocele were examined. The relationship between the SWE values of testis volume and the presence and volume of varicocele was evaluated statistically.

Results: The mean velocity value was 0.76 ± 0.08 m/s in the varicocele group and 0.85 ± 0.13 m/s in the without varicocele group; the mean stiffness value was 1.76 ± 0.37 KPa in the varicocele group and 2.25 ± 0.54 KPa in the without varicocele group. The SWE values were found to be significantly lower in testes with varicocele than in those without (p<0.001). The mean testis volume was 13.5 ± 4.6 in the varicocele group and 13.8 ± 4.4 in the without varicocele group. No statistically significant relationship was determined between the presence of varicocele and testis volume (p=0.670). A significant negative correlation was found between plexus pampiniform diameter and velocity (rs=-0.405, p=0.002) and stiffness (rs =-0.399, p=0.003) values.

Conclusion: SWE findings can provide information about testicular damage associated with varicocele. Furthermore comprehensive studies may be of importance in varicocele treatment.

Key words: Shearwave elastography (SWE), Testis, Varicocele, Parenchymal stiffness.