Changes of calcific density in pediatric patients with testicular microlithiasis

PURPOSE: Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is a relatively rare clinical entity of controversial significance characterized by the existence of hydroxyapatite microliths located in the seminiferous tubules. The aim of this study was to observe the natural course of changes in the calcific density of pediatric TM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included a total of 23 TM patients undergoing scrotal ultrasound (US) on at least two occasions from July 1997 to August 2014. We retrospectively analyzed the patient characteristics, clinical manifestations, specific pathological features, and clinical outcomes. We measured the calcified area and compared the calcific density between the initial and final USs. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 11.3+/-4.6 years, and the follow-up period was 79.1+/-38.8 months (range, 25.4-152.9 months). During the follow-up period, no patients developed testicular cancer. Calcific density on US was increased in the last versus the initial US, but not to a statistically significant degree (3.74%+/-6.0% vs. 3.06%+/-4.38%, respectively, p=0.147). When we defined groups with increased and decreased calcification, we found that diffuse TM was categorized into the increased group to a greater degree than focal TM (10/20 vs. 4/23, respectively, p=0.049). In addition, five of eight cases of cryptorchidism (including two cases of bilateral cryptorchidism) were categorized in the increased calcification group. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse TM and cryptorchidism tend to increase calcific density. Close observation is therefore recommended for cases of TM combined with cryptorchidism and cases of diffuse TM.

Testis tumor associated to microlithiasis / Tumor de testiculo asociado a la microlitiasis / Tumor de testiculo associado a microlitiase

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the relationship between testicular microlithiasis and testis tumors in children and to consider the chances of testis preserving surgery in specific cases. CASE DESCRIPTION: Pre-adolescent presenting testicular microlithiasis and a larger left testis, corresponding to a cystic testicular tumor. The tumor was excised, with ipsilateral testis preservation. Histology diagnosed a testis dermoid tumor. COMMENTS: The relationship between testis tumors and testicular microlithiasis is ill defined in children. Pediatric urologists need to develop specific follow-up protocols for pre-pubertal children. .

OBJETIVO: Discutir las implicaciones de la microlitíasis testicular en el niño con relación al riesgo oncológico implicado y la posibilidad de cirugía de preservación testicular en casos elegidos. DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CASO: Pre-adolescente presentando aumento microlitíasis testicular y aumento del testículo izquierdo, con lesión tumoral quística. La lesión fue resecada, con preservación del testículo y diagnóstico histológico de tumor dermatoide testicular. COMENTARIOS: La relación entre tumores de testículo y microlitíasis testicular es mal definida en niños y hay la necesidad de desarrollar protocolos de seguimiento específicos para esa franja de edad. .

OBJETIVO: Discutir as implicações da microlitíase testicular na criança com relação ao risco oncológico envolvido e a possibilidade de cirurgia de preservação testicular em casos escolhidos. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Pré-adolescente apresentava microlitíase testicular e aumento do testículo esquerdo, correspondendo a tumor testicular cístico. Ressecou-se o tumor, com preservação do testículo. O diagnóstico histológico foi de tumor dermoide testicular. COMENTÁRIOS: A relação entre tumores de testículo e microlitíase testicular é mal definida em crianças e há a necessidade de desenvolver protocolos de seguimento específicos para essa faixa etária. .

Clinical importance and prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in pediatric patients / Importância clínica e prevalência de microlititíase testicular em pacientes pediátricos

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis among pediatric patients with inguinoscrotal affections. METHODS: Between January 2005 and January 2010, we evaluated, prospectively 1504 children ranging from 1 to 15 years with inguinoscrotal affections with a high-frequency ultrasound system, which employs a 10-MHz transducer. RESULTS: Testicular microlithiasis was identified in 20 testes of eleven children (0.71 percent of 1504 patients evaluated), through an ultrasound scan. Testicular microlithiasis was found in 5 children with cryptorchidism (3.93 percent of 127 patients), 4 children with retractile testes (14.8 percent of 27 patients), 1 child with a hypotrophic testis (100 percent of 1 patient), and 1 child with inguinal hernia (0.07 percent of 1349 patients). The children with testicular microlithiasis were submitted to annual physical examinations and ultrasound evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular microlithiasis was a rare condition and occurred in 0.7 percent of the subjects studied. The association with cryptorchidism, retractile and hypotrophic testis was significant.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência de microlitíase testicular entre pacientes pediátricos com afecções inguinoescrotais. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo entre janeiro de 2005 a janeiro de 2010, utilizando ultrasonografia escrotal em 1504 crianças (de 1 a 15 anos) com afecções inguinoescrotais. RESULTADOS: Microlitíase testicular foi identificada em 20 testículos de 11 crianças (0,71 por cento dos 1504 pacientes). 5 crianças com criptorquidia (3,93 por cento de 127 pacientes), 4 com testículo retrátil (14,8 por cento de 27 pacientes), 1 com hipotrofia testicular e 1 com hérnia inguinal (0,07 por cento de 1349 crianças). As crianças foram avaliadas anualmente com exame físico e ultrassonografia inguinoescrotal. CONCLUSÕES: A microlitíase testicular é uma entidade rara, ocorrendo em 0,7 por cento dos pacientes pediátricos com afecções inguinoescrotais. A associação com a criptorquidia, testículo retrátil e a hipotrofia testicular foi significativa.

Association between testicular microlithiasis, testicular cancer, cryptorchidism and history of ascending testis

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively determine the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in symptomatic patients who were referred for scrotal ultrasound examination and to evaluate the possible association of testicular microlithiasis with testicular cancer and other conditions such as cryptorchidism or history of ascending testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 391 men who were referred to our institutions between July 2002 and May 2005 for any type of symptoms from the testicles, underwent physical and scrotal ultrasound examination. The presence of testicular microlithiasis, the number of lesions and the involvement of both testicles in relation to the symptoms as well as the coexistence of other lesions were studied. RESULTS: Eighteen (4.6 percent) of 391 men enrolled into the study had testicular microlithiasis. Two out of the eighteen patients (11 percent) had concomitant testicular cancer, which was confirmed by pathological evaluation of the orchidectomy specimen. One of the patients with testicular microlithiasis presented a rising in biochemical tumor markers (LDH, and HCG) and underwent orchidectomy one year later. Five of the remaining 373 (1.3 percent) patients without microlithiasis were diagnosed with testicular cancer. Thirty six men reported having a history of ascending testis, but none of them was found with testicular cancer. Two cases of testicular torsion in a cryptorchid position had testicular microlithiasis, but the orchidectomy specimen (after surgery) was negative for testicular cancer. The correlation between testicular cancer and testicular microlithiasis found in our study was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There seems to be an association between testicular microlithiasis and testicular cancer.

Acute scrotum -- etiology and management.

OBJECTIVE: Acute scrotal pain is a common urological emergency. Urgent exploration is the standard means of management, since no investigation can confidently exclude torsion of testis from the differential diagnosis. METHODS: A review of all boys presenting with acute scrotal pain who underwent emergency scrotal exploration between January 1983 and March 2003 was performed. RESULTS : 195 boys were included in this study. They were divided into 3 groups: group 1-73 with epididymo-orchitis, group 2-63 with torsion of testicular appendages and group 3- 57 with spermatic cord torsion. The patients in group 2 were older than group 1, also patients in group 1 were older than group 3. During neonatal period the most common pathology was spermatic cord torsion, whereas in prepubertal period torsion of appendages was more common. In all boys, mean duration of pain at presentation was 2.11 days. Epididymo-orchitis was diagnosed in 37% of patients, with torsion of the appendages being the next most common entity. Testicular torsion was diagnosed in 29% of patients. In the group with testicular torsion salvage rate of testis was 37% because of late admission. The perioperative morbidity and mortality was not seen in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: We believe that any boy with acute scrotal pain and any suspicion of testicular torsion in physical examination must be applied routine surgical exploration.

Factores causales de infertilidad masculina: contribución del factor endocrino / Causes of male infertility: the contribution of endocrine factors

Background: Male infertility is responsible for 35 percent of infertile couples. Aim: To investigate the causes of male infertility and the relative importance of endocrine factors. Patients and methods: Patients referred to an andrology clinic due to an abnormal spermiogram were studied. A testitular examination, spermiogram and determination of FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin were done to all. Testicular biopsy was done to patients with severe oligospermia or azoospermia. Causes of infertility were defined and classified as pretesticular, testicular, posttesticular or unclassified. Results: Two hundred fifty seven males were studied. In 3.5 percent of them, the cause of infertility was defined as pretesticular (that included hypothalamic and pituitary endocrine causes), in 66.9 percent it was classified as testicular, in 15.6 percent as posttesticular and in 14 percent, as unclassified. Thirty percent of infertility cases were idiopathic, 17.9 percent were associated to varicocele, 12.8 percent were associated to cryptorchidism, 8.9 percent to Klinefelter syndrome and 6.6 percent to exposure to toxic substances. In 50 percent of patients with cryptorchidism, this abnormality was found during the specialized andrological examination and referrals for surgical correction were made late. Two thirds of patients with Klinefelter syndrome were hypoandrogenic. Conclusions: Causes for male infertility should be investigated and diagnosed accurately. Primary hypoandrogenic testicular failures must be treated with hormone replacement therapy

Microlitíase testicular associada à neoplasia de células germinativas / Testicular microlithiasis associated with germ cell neoplasy

A calcificaçäo intratubular do testículo, também conhecida como microlitíase testicular, é patologia rara e de etiologia incerta, descoberta durante a investigaçäo de sintomas testiculares inespecíficos. Apresenta padräo ultra-sonográfico característico, diferente daquele observado em outros tipos de calcificaçöes. Sua associaçäo com outras patologias foi descrita, inclusive com tumores testiculares, motivo pelo qual o paciente com microlitíase testicular deve merecer atençäo especial no que diz respeito à investigaçäo

Testicular biopsy in cases of male infertility: a retrospective study.

One hundred testicular biopsies performed during the period of 1983-90 were reviewed to reappraise the value and utility of testicular biopsy in cases of male infertility. All the biopsies were categorised into the following 7 types and their relative incidences were determined. There were 16% normal cases. Hypospermatogenesis was found in 42% cases, maturation arrest in 18% cases, Sertoli cell-only syndrome in 17% cases, Klinefelter's syndrome in 3% cases, orchitis in 3% cases and tubular sclerosis in 1% case. Testicular biopsy findings were correlated with semen analysis reports. Azoospermia was represented by all the above 7 types whereas oligospermia was represented hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest varieties. Testicular biopsy is most useful in azoospermia but its value is limited in oligospermia.

Isosexual precocity: the clinical and etiologic profile.

Eighty children (58 girls and 22 boys) with isosexual precocity seen in the past eight years were evaluated clinically and investigated to identify the underlying cause. Of these, 50% (29 girls and 11 boys) had centrally mediated true precocious puberty (TPP). The girls could be classified into five major groups (I) Central precocious puberty 29-subclassified into idiopathic (ITPP, 15) and organic or neurogenic (NTTP, 14), (II) Premature thelarche (PT, 20), (III) Premature menarche (PM, 2), (IV) Premature adrenarche (PA, 5), and, (V) Others: hypothyroid (n = 1), and McCune Albright Syndrome (n = 1). ITPP as a cause of precocity in girls was seen less often (52%) and NTPP more often (48%) compared to most Western series, with tubercular meningitis as the cause in 31% and hypothalamic hamartomas in 10%. Though the LH and estradiol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in TPP, compared to PT, these were not helpful in differentiating because of considerable overlap. LH-predominant-response (LH/FSH ratio > 1) to LHRH testing was seen in TPP. Amongst the 22 boys, 11 (50%) had TPP, ITPP in 27% and NTPP in 73%. Hamartomas (n = 4) and TBM (n = 3) contributed equally to NTPP; pineal tumor was seen in one. The adrenal (n = 7) and testicular (n = 2) causes together involved 41% of the boys with precocity, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) CAH, 11-beta hydroxylase being the commonest cause. Of the 6 boys witdeficiency was found in four and nonsalt losing form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in 2. Testicular and adrenal tumors and testotoxicosis were noted in one case each. The etiologic factors were more varied in boys.

Evaluation of post-testicular obstructive disorders in azospermic patients

The frequency and spectrum of post-testicular obstructive disorders in azoospermic patients were .R determined by fertility hormone profile, semen fructose level and post-coital urine examination for sperm test. One hundred and fifty six azoospermic men and 25 age matched fertile males were included as control in the study. Serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were assayed by standard double-antibody nl radioimmunoassay. Semen fructose estimation was done by using Dr Langa kit. The testicular biopsy >t was performed and stained by H and E stain. Sixty [38.5%] patients had serum FSH level of 5.4 mlU/ml [range 1.6-10.2 mlU/ml]; LH 6.9 mlU/ml [range 3.4-12 mlU/ml] and testosterone, 6.3 ng/ml [range 3.1-10.9 ng/ml]. The testicular size was none significantly different from healthy subject. These patients were diagnosed to have post-testicular obstructive disorder. Three patients had no fructose in their semen, probably, due to absent seminal vesicles/vas deferens or ejaculatory duct obstruction. Two patients had sperms in post -coital urine examination due to retrograde ejaculation. It is concluded that post-testicular obstruction is a common disorder causing infertility in azoospermic males. Measurement of fertility hormone profile is sensitive and comparable with testicular biopsy in post-testicular obstruction

Microlitiasis testicular: diagnóstico ecográfico de una nueva causa de orquialgia e infertilidad / Testicular microlithiasis: echographic diagnosis of a new cause of orchialgia and infertility

Presentamos 5 pacientes que consultaron por orquialgia y en quiénes se hizo el diagnóstico de microlitiasis testicular por medio de una ecografía escrotal. En cuatro de ellos se encontró azoospermia y también 4 presentaban los testículos disminuidos de tamaño. Los hallazgos ecográficos son característicos y consisten en la presencia de múltiples imágenes ecogénicas, sin sombra acústica distal, diseminadas en ambos testiculos. El estudio patológico efectuados en 3 casos demostró atrofia del epitelio germinal con compromiso de la espermiogénesis asociado a la presencia de micro-esferas cálcicas intratubulares. Existen escasos antecedentes en la literatura acerca de la microlitiasis testicular y hasta ahora no conocíamos esta asociación entre microlitiasis testicular, orquialgia y oligo o azoospermia. El diagnóstico puede efectuarse con una ecografía escrotal, la que deberá incorporarse al estudio de la infertilidad masculina