Testicular microlithiasis: what urologists should know. A review of the current literature

The role of the radiologist in the evaluation of male infertility: recommendations of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology-Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (ESUR-SPIWG) for scrotal imaging

OBJECTIVES

The Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (SPIWG) of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) aimed to produce recommendations on the role of the radiologist in the evaluation of male infertility focused on scrotal imaging.

METHODS

The authors independently performed an extensive literature Medline search and a review of the clinical practice and consensus opinion of experts in the field.

RESULTS

Scrotal ultrasound (US) is useful in investigating male infertility. US abnormalities related to abnormal sperm parameters (sperm concentration, total count, motility, and morphology) are low testicular volume (TV), testicular inhomogeneity (TI), cryptorchidism, testicular microlithiasis (TML), high-grade varicocele, bilateral absence of vas deferens, bilateral dilation and echotexture abnormalities of the epididymis. The proposed ESUR-SPIWG recommendations for imaging in the evaluation of male infertility are therefore: to measure TV; investigate TI; perform annual (US) follow-ups up to age 55 in men with a history of cryptorchidism/orchidopexy and/or in men with TML plus "additional risk factors" or with "starry sky" TML; perform scrotal/inguinal US in men with nonpalpable testis; perform scrotal US in men with abnormal sperm parameters to investigate lesions suggestive of tumors; evaluate varicocele in a standardized way; evaluate the presence or absence of vas deferens; investigate the epididymis to detect indirect signs suggesting obstruction and/or inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

The ESUR-SPIWG recommends investigating infertile men with scrotal US focusing on TV, inhomogeneity, localization, varicocele, vas deferens, and epididymal abnormalities. Cryptorchidism, TML, and lesions should be detected in relation to the risk of testicular tumors.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

The ESUR-SPIWG recommendations on scrotal imaging in the assessment of male infertility are useful to standardize the US examination, focus on US abnormalities most associated with abnormal semen parameters in an evidence-based manner, and provide a standardized report to patients.

KEY POINTS

So far, ESUR-SPIWG recommendations on scrotal imaging in the assessment of male infertility were not available. The ESUR-SPIWG recommends investigating infertile men with scrotal US focusing on testicular volume, inhomogeneity, localization, varicocele, vas deferens and epididymal abnormalities, and assessing cryptorchidism, testicular microlithiasis and lesions in relation to the risk of testicular tumors. The ESUR-SPIWG recommendations on scrotal imaging in the assessment of male infertility are useful to standardize the US examination, focus on US abnormalities most associated with abnormal sperm parameters in an evidence-based manner, and provide a standardized report to patients.

Is testicular microlithiasis associated with decreased semen parameters? a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is characterised by microcalcifications in the testes and has been associated with infertility. This has led to studies of semen analysis in men with the condition. This systematic review aimed to compare semen parameters in men with TM and those without. Men with classic TM (≥ 5 microcalcifications per sonographic image) were also compared to those with limited TM (< 5 microcalcifications per sonographic image). Additionally, testicular volume and hormone levels were analysed as secondary outcomes. This review was carried out according to PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Embase, MEDLINE, World of Science and Scopus were searched. Abstracts were screened against inclusion/exclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Eligible studies included data on semen parameters in men with TM where semen analysis was done according to World Health Organisation recommendations. Studies with populations consisting of men with testicular cancer were excluded. After searching the databases, 137 papers were found and 10 studies involving 611 men with TM were included in the analysis. In the studies that compared sperm concentration in men with TM to controls, six (100%) found lower sperm concentration in the TM group. Six studies compared sperm motility, of which 4 (66.7%) showed lower motility in the TM group compared to controls. Five studies compared sperm morphology, with three (60%) finding a lower percentage of normal morphology in the TM group compared to controls. Six studies compared classic TM with limited TM. All six (100%) found a lower sperm concentration in the classic TM group compared to the limited TM group. Results also suggested that more extensive disease is associated with poorer sperm concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

This review suggests that TM is associated with decreased semen parameters, particularly sperm concentration. However, clinical outcomes should be investigated by studying pregnancy rates in males with TM. Future research that controls for confounding variables, involves larger sample sizes, and utilises advanced sperm function tests is also advised. Further research is important for establishing clinical guidance and suggestions for fertility follow-up in men with TM.

Long time follow-up for patients with testicular torsion: new findings

BACKGROUND

Testicular torsion is the major urologic emergency. If not treated promptly, this condition can result in testicular necrosis or long-term functional impairment. At present, there are few paper about long time follow-up of these patients. The primary objective of our study is to report the long-term clinical-instrumental data (mean follow-up 12 years) of patients treated for testicular torsion.

METHODS

We considered patients treated for testicular torsion during the period between 1997 and 2017. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were created. Patients were contacted by phone between December 2021 and January 2022. Each patient underwent clinical and ultrasonographic evaluation, and in addition, some subjects were offered additional tests (hormonal assays and semen analysis).

RESULTS

During the study period, 22 patients were treated for testicular torsion. From the ultrasonographic study, it was found that the volume of the affected testis is reduced and it is associated with microcalcifications and heterogeneous echogenicity. Morphovolumetric recovery seems to be more related to age of onset than to the degree of torsion.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our results we can state that affected testes, if preserved, grow less and have altered ultrasonographic morphology. Clinically, the age of onset of torsion seems more important than the degree of torsion.

Effects of testicular dysgenesis syndrome components on testicular germ cell tumor prognosis and oncological outcomes

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether components of Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome (TDS) affect testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) prognosis and oncological outcomes. According to the hypothesis called TDS; undescended testis, hypospadias, testicular cancer and spermatogenic disorders share the same risk factors and have a combined fetal origin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the stages and oncological outcomes of 69 patients who underwent radical orchiectomy between January 2010 and December 2014 due to TGCT in our department. The presence of undescended testis, hypospadias and semen parameters disorders were recorded according to anamnesis of patients.

RESULTS

Among 69 patients with TGCT, only 16 (23.1%) had TDS. Significantly higher rate of TDS (36.1% vs. 9.1%) was observed at the advanced stages of TGCT(p=0.008). In the TDS group, the rates of local recurrence (50% vs. 11.3%, p< 0.001), distant metastasis (93.6% vs. 3.8%, p< 0.001) and cancer-spesific mortality (87.5% vs. 3.8%, p< 0.001) were found significantly higher than those without TDS. The predicted time for recurrence-free survival (13.70±5.13 vs. 100.96±2.83 months, p< 0.001) metastasis-free survival (13.12±4.21 vs. 102.79±2.21 months, p< 0.001) and cancer-specific survival (13.68±5.38 vs. 102.80±2.19 months, p< 0.001) were also statistically lower in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our preliminary results, there is an apparent relationship between TDS and tumor prognosis. Even if the components of TDS alone did not contain poor prognostic features for TGCT, the presence of TDS was found as the most important independent predictive factor for oncological outcomes in both seminomas and nonseminomas as well as all patients with TGCT.

Imaging of childhood urologic cancers: current approaches and new advances

Urologic tumors make up approximately 10% of all pediatric cancers, and include a variety of different histologies and imaging considerations. In this review, we discuss standard radiologic approaches for children with tumors arising in the genitourinary system, and identify important ways in which imaging affects the differential diagnosis, preoperative planning, and staging of these tumors. In addition, we provide an update on strategies to reduce the time of imaging, which may obviate the need for sedation in younger patients. Efforts to reduce a patient’s overall radiation exposure and subsequent risk of second malignancy are also detailed, including recent work on surveillance imaging following completion of therapy. Finally, we highlight new techniques such as radiomics that are now being investigated for patients with these malignancies.