PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis and its association with primary testicular neoplasm.
METHODS: Evaluated were 6,002 patients undergoing scrotal ultrasound at our institution. Data recorded included age, ultrasound date, presence of microlithiasis, presence of testicular mass on ultrasound, and pathologic diagnosis for those who had subsequent orchiectomy.
RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-six of 6,002 patients (7.6%) demonstrated testicular microlithiasis. The prevalence increased from 4.6% for those examined before 2001 to 9.02% for those examined since 2001 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of primary testicular neoplasm in patients without microlithiasis was 1.5% (84/5,546), whereas in those with microlithiasis it was 12% (53/456) (p < 0.001). The prevalence of pure seminoma was 39% (33/84) in the nonmicrolithiasis group with tumor versus 64% (34/53) in the microlithiasis group with tumor (p < 0.001). Germ cell tumors made up 98% of neoplasms in patients with microlithiasis, but only 85% in patients without microlithiasis (p = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: Advances in ultrasound technology have led to an increased detection of testicular microlithiasis. We observed an eight-fold increased prevalence of primary testicular neoplasm in patients with microlithiasis than in those without as well as an increased prevalence of germ cell tumors, particularly pure seminoma.
Written by:
Heller HT, Oliff MC, Doubilet PM, O'Leary MP, Benson CB. Are you the author?
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115.
Reference: J Clin Ultrasound. 2014 Feb 28. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1002/jcu.22144
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24585495
UroToday.com Testicular Cancer Section
