Korean J Androl.
2001 Dec;19(3):195-198.
Technical Refinement of 99mTc-RBC Scrotal Scan for Evaluating Varicocele
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Urology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. khrha@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
- 2Capital Armed Forces General Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Abstract
-
PURPOSE: The association of varicoceles and subfertility has been well documented. Although varicoceles remain the most common surgically correctable cause of male infertility the subjective diagnosis of varicocele, especially the small ones remains a challenge.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We evaluated 40 young men (16 volunteers, 24 varicocele patients) with scrotal blood pool scan using 99mTc RBC.
RESULTS
Complete correlation between physical findings and the scrotal scan was found. The postoperative scans of 12 patients with surgically corrected high grade varicoceles demonstrated symmetrical photon accumulation in the scrotum. The technique which most accurately correlated the clinical grade was the varicocele index using total count at Valsalva maneuver.
CONCLUSIONS
We believe that the 99mTc RBC scrotal scan with technical refinement is a useful procedure in the objective diagnosis and followup of varicoceles.
