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Varicocele
Aka: Varicocele
- Epidemiology
- Present in 20% of all males
- Occurs in 30% of infertile men
- Most common correctable form of Male Infertility
- Symptoms
- Often asymptomatic
- Patient finds mass lying posterior and above the Testes
- Red Flag: Sudden onset Varicocele in older man
- Left: Assess renal tumor and spermatic vein Occlusion
- Right: Assess vena cava obstruction
- Signs
- "Bag of worms" superior to the Testicle
- Vein dilation and tortuosity
- Decreased with patient supine
- Increased with patient upright and with valsalva
- Left Varicocele most common
- Left testicular vein drains into renal vein
- Pathophysiology
- Abnormal venous tortuosity and dilatation
- Pampiniform venous plexus
- Internal spermatic vein
- Associated Infertility may be due to
- Elevated testicular temperature
- Results in decreased spermatogenesis and motility
- Management: Surgical repair
- Indication
- Abnormal seman analysis and Infertility
- Fails to Restore fertility by recent study
- Evers (2003) Lancet 361:1849-52
- Persistant symptoms (Dull ache or heavy sensation)
- Procedures
- Surgical ligation of pampiniform plexus
- Injected sclerotherapy
- Directed embolization via intervention radiology