Varicocele, whose association with male infertility has been clearly documented in the literature, is a common finding in adolescents and adult men, being diagnosed in 20-40% of infertile patients. A correct and early diagnosis of this affliction is of great importance because, in most cases, a timely correction, usually performed using percutaneous sclerotherapy, leads to an improvement in semen quality. Currently, physical examination in a warm room is the mainstay of diagnosis, but this is affected by a low sensibility and specificity, especially in cases of low grade varicocele. Colour Doppler ultrasound (CDU) is a new, reliable and non-invasive diagnostic method for the evaluation of varicocele testes which allows the detection of even subclinical varicocele thanks to its capacity for measuring the size of the pampiniformis plexus and blood flow parameters of the spermatic veins. At present, there is a lack of completely standardised diagnostic criteria, but when this problem is solved, clinical examination and CDU will certainly become the "gold standard" in the investigation of varicocele.

High-flow priapism usually follows perineal or penile trauma with disruption of an intracavernosal artery. Angiographic embolization of the lacerated artery is currently considered the treatment of choice. The contribution of gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasonography (US) in diagnosis and treatment of 10 patients with high-flow priapism was investigated. In patients with recent arterial laceration, the cavernous tissue surrounding the arterial-sinusoidal fistula appears as a hypoechoic region with undefined margins. In long-standing priapism, this area is usually more regular and circumscribed, mimicking a pseudoaneurysm. Color Doppler US is highly sensitive for detection of the arterial-sinusoidal fistula that causes extravasation of blood from the lacerated cavernosal artery. After angiography, color Doppler US allows confirmation of both successful embolization by demonstrating disappearance or size reduction of the fistula and unsuccessful treatment by demonstrating patency of collateral feeding vessels or early recanalization of the embolized artery. Limitations of color Doppler US include underestimation of the number of accessory feeding vessels, which may become patent only after embolization of the main vascular supply, and difficulty in recognizing vessels that feed the fistula from the opposite side.

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| During adolescence, the risk of developing a varicocele increases. Prevalence is less than 1% in boys aged younger than 10 years, but approaches that of the general adult population (about 15%) during puberty. For adolescent males with varicoceles, surgical risk factors have not yet been clearly delineated and clinical severity correlates poorly with prognosis. Fortunately, the widespread use of Doppler ultrasonography is transforming the diagnostic work-up for this demographic. A continuous reflux detected by color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) is thought to have a negative prognostic value and evidence suggests that a peak retrograde flow above 38 cm per second is a powerful predictor of lack of spontaneous improvement in adolescent patients with ≥20% asymmetry between testes. CDUS also enables the detection of varicocele resulting from reflux in the deferential vein adjunctive to a refluxing internal spermatic vein; a causality that accounts for approximately 15% of cases. In addition to a diagnostic role, hemodynamic parameters can be used to predict the risk of persistence or worsening asymmetry. Although further studies are necessary to validate single parameters, it seems that the more severe the reflux, the greater the likelihood that the patient will develop testicular asymmetry.

Objective: To report the results of a survey supported by the Italian Andrological Association (ASS.A.I.), aimed at documenting sexual disorders in a large population of patients who visited general practitioners for general health problems. Methods: Between April and October 2016, 15,000 questionnaires were distributed to general practitioners throughout Italy and made available to all the people who visited the doctor’s offices. The data were collated separately for age ranges, 15–30, 31–50 and 51–65 years, respectively. Results: A final sample of 5441 questionnaires was evaluable (4000 men and 1441 women). Sexual disorders were reported by 1795 out of 5441 (33.0%) patients. Among the male population, phimosis, varicocele, prostate and testicular disorders were the most common conditions interfering with sexuality, being reported by 42.0%, 37.0%, 39.0% and 31.0% of the sample, respectively. Furthermore, erectile dysfunction, sexually transmitted diseases, infertility, premature ejaculation and penile curvature were reported by 27.7%, 27.0%, 17.0%, 14.4% and 7.8% of the male sample, respectively. Among the female population, low sexual satisfaction was the more common complaint, reported by 65.0% of the sample. Sexually transmitted diseases, low libido, dyspareunia, infertility and arousal disorder were reported by 32.0%, 29.0%, 24.0%, 24.0% and 19.7% of the female sample, respectively. Conclusion: Our data show sexual disorders among 33.0% of people visiting doctors’ offices. The majority of these sexual disorders increased with age among both male and female subjects. Despite the limitations of our study, we consider that these data confirm the importance of sexual function evaluation during a physician’s daily clinical practice.