Testicular microlithiasis: Analysis of prevalence and associated testicular cancer in Taiwanese men

Abstract

The incidence of TM in Taiwanese people may be higher than previously reported, which may be due to the difference in methodology and increased awareness of the US findings. Although there was a significant difference in the rate of malignancy in males with TM compared with those without TM, the question remains whether TM independently increases the risk of testicular malignancy.

Testicular microlithiasis: Correlation with doppler sonography of testicular arteries and sperm function

“…This structure is responsible for the characteristic US appearances of multiple small (1–2 mm) nonshadowing echoes randomly scattered in the parenchyma of the testis. In symptomatic patients, estimates of the prevalence of TM range from as low as 0.6% and as high as 18.1% with a median reported rate of about 3% . In our study, the prevalence of TM was 5.3%, which is within the range reported in the literature and is lower than the prevalence rate reported in four relatively recent studies .…”

“…In symptomatic patients, estimates of the prevalence of TM range from as low as 0.6% and as high as 18.1% with a median reported rate of about 3% . In our study, the prevalence of TM was 5.3%, which is within the range reported in the literature and is lower than the prevalence rate reported in four relatively recent studies . Factors that may affect the prevalence of TM include the use of state‐of‐the art equipment, level of sonographer's experience, US criteria used in TM definition, and inherent differences in study populations with respect to age and race .…”

“…TM has been reported in association with various clinical conditions, such as varicocele, cryptorchidism, primary testicular neoplasms, and infertility . The association between varicocele and TM has been suggested by some investigations .…”

“…Prevalence rates as high as 5.6% have been reported in patients 18–35 years old . In symptomatic patients, a wider range of prevalence rates (0.6–18.1%) has been reported with a median of about 3% . Doppler US findings are regularly used to evaluate several scrotal disorders, such as varicocele, epididymo‐orchitis, and testicular infarction .…”

Clinical Perspectives of Scrotal Ultrasound in Urology

“…Hyperechoic spots on sonography are usually found without acoustic shadows. The incidence of TM ranges from 0.6%-9% in various retrospective studies (Chen et al, 2010). We also noted that patients with a malignant testicular neoplasm have a higher prevalence of TM (Ou et al, 2007).…”