Small testes: clinical characteristics and ultrasonographic findings

Abstract

The purpose of this pictorial essay is to describe the ultrasonographic and clinical findings in patients with various causes of small testes. We retrospectively reviewed the ultrasonographic and clinical findings of various causes of small testes. We present various causes of small testes on ultrasonography including Klinefelter syndrome, testicular torsion, mumps orchitis, inguinal hernia, cryptorchidism, varicocele and trauma. On ultrasonography, small testes in patients with testicular torsion, mumps orchitis, and trauma usually revealed heterogeneous echogenicity. The atrophic testes were homogeneously hypoechoic in cryptorchidism and inguinal hernia and were isoechoic to the normal testis in varicocele. Klinefelter syndrome patients had small hyperechoic or hypoechoic nodules, but the echogenicity of the remnant portion of the testes were homogeneous. Ultrasonographys is helpful for detection of small testes and differential diagnosis of variable causes of small testes.

Diagnostic role of gray-scale and shear-wave elastography in pediatric patients with undescended testes: a prospective controlled study

“…Testicular volume of patients with UDT is lower than in the testes descended into the scrotum ( 30 , 31 ) . Although the causes of growth and development impairments in UDTs have not been determined, one of the primary suggested causes is exposure to an abnormally high temperature environment ( 30 ) . UDTs located deep or near the abdomen have been shown to have lower volumes due to higher temperature environments ( 30 ) .…”

“…UDT is the most frequent congenital genital abnormality found in boys, with a prevalence of 2–5% at birth and 1–2% by the age of three months. The testicles may be located in the inguinal canal in 72% of cases, in the prescrotal position in 20%, and in the abdominal cavity in 8% of cases ( 30 ) . Histopathological findings associated with UDT include decreased germ-cell counts, lack of spermatogenesis, Leydig cell hypoplasia, and testicular fibrosis ( 30 ) .…”

“…The testicles may be located in the inguinal canal in 72% of cases, in the prescrotal position in 20%, and in the abdominal cavity in 8% of cases ( 30 ) . Histopathological findings associated with UDT include decreased germ-cell counts, lack of spermatogenesis, Leydig cell hypoplasia, and testicular fibrosis ( 30 ) . Testicular volume of patients with UDT is lower than in the testes descended into the scrotum ( 30 , 31 ) .…”

“…Histopathological findings associated with UDT include decreased germ-cell counts, lack of spermatogenesis, Leydig cell hypoplasia, and testicular fibrosis ( 30 ) . Testicular volume of patients with UDT is lower than in the testes descended into the scrotum ( 30 , 31 ) . Although the causes of growth and development impairments in UDTs have not been determined, one of the primary suggested causes is exposure to an abnormally high temperature environment ( 30 ) .…”

Retrocecal Ascending Appendix Attached to the Hepatic Flexure and Right Intra-abdominal Testis Identified During Open Appendicectomy: A Case Report

“…Testicular position and laxity of the spermatic cord are factors to consider when the surgeon decides ultimate outcome for IAT [ 12 ]. A normal testis size in post-pubertal males is 4-5 cm length x 2.5 cm width and 3 cm height; on gross examination, small testes are those smaller than the 50th percentile for age or 20% smaller than the contra-lateral testis on physical examination [ 13 ]. In the case of our patient, the spermatic cord length was not adequate to reach the scrotum, and the testes were grossly small in appearance, so an appropriate decision was taken to excise and send for a biopsy.…”