Testicular microlithiasis: What is its association with testicular cancer?

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in patien ts who were referred for scrotal ultrasonography (US) at a tertiary care ca ncer center and to evaluate the association between microlithiasis and canc er. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular sonograms obtained in 528 men were retros pectively reviewed to identify patients with US findings suggestive of micr olithiasis, intratesticular masses, and intratesticular heterogeneous chang es. The association of US findings with medical records and with histopatho logic findings that were available in 95 patients was evaluated. Statistica l analysis was performed to determine the relationship of testicular cancer , intratesticular mass, and microlithiasis. RESULTS: Forty-eight (9%) of the 528 patients had mictolithiasis; 13 of the se (27%) had testicular cancers. Of the 480 patients without microlithiasis , 38 (8%) had testicular cancer. Ninety patients had an intratesticular mas s, of whom 23 (26%) had microlithiasis. Forty-three (12 with microlithiasis ) patients with a mass had testicular cancer, 43 (10 with microlithiasis) h ad benign findings or nontesticular malignant histopathologic findings, and four(one with microlithiasis) had no pathologic findings. CONCLUSION: Intratesticular microlithiasis is highly associated with confir med testicular cancer, as well as with US evidence of testicular mass.