VARICOCELE IN CHILDREN

Varicocele in children or adolescents should be given appropriate attention because of the risk of adverse effects on testicular development and spermatogenesis. The authors describe their current attitude based on their experience with 159 cases. The main evaluation criteria are clinical. Ultrasonography is useful for determining the size of the testis and eliminating the causes of symptomatic varicocele, which is exceedingly rare in pediatric patients. In patients with delayed testicular growth, patent reflux, and/or deformation of the scrotum, endoluminal occlusion of the testicular vein should be performed immediately after a phlebography. When this treatment fails or is unfeasible, high ligation of the spermatic vein can be performed. Close monitoring of these patients until adulthood will probably allow to fill the many gaps that persist in our knowledge of this condition.