TESTICULAR SIZE FOLLOWING EMBOLIZATION THERAPY FOR PEDIATRIC LEFT VARICOCELE

Optimal management of varicocele testis in children and adolescents is controversial, but testicular hypotrophy has been suggested as an ind ication far treatment in adolescents. This report concerns the diagnos is and management of left varicocele in 30 patients aged 6-15 years an d the influence of treatment on testicular size. The left testicle was significantly smaller than the right in 14 patients at enrolment in t he study. All patients were treated in local anaesthesia with percutan eous transfemoral spermatic venography and embolization of that vein w ith spring coil, followed by 24-hour observation. There were no major complications. At follow-up 9 to 12 months after the treatment, the si ze of the left testis had increased in 12 patients. Spring-coil emboli zation of the spermatic vein proved to be a safe and effective techniq ue for treatment of varicocele.