Varicocele is the most frequent cause of male subfertility, because it is the most common surgically correctable cause of male infertility, its diagnosis is important. For diagnosis of varicoceles, venography, thermography, and doppler
stethoscope
were
available, but they involved invasiveness, inaccuracy, lack of objectivity, and cosiliness. Two noninvasive methods for detecting varicoceles, scrotogram using 99mTechnetium and digital infrared thermography imaging (DITI) , were evaluated in 52
patients complaining of infertility. The results of scrotogram and thermography were not consistent in these patients. When the varicoceles were confirmed with internal spermatic venography or high ligation of intrnal spermatic vein, the physical
examination was the most accurate method, compared with scrotogram and thermography. Scrotogram (0.73) was more sensitive than thermography (0.64). The each combination of the two of physical examination, scrotogram and thermography increased the
accuracy in terms of sensitivity and positive value. This study suggests that the combination of scrotogram and thermography with physical examination would increase the diagnostic accuracy in the varicoceles.
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