Elsevier

Urology

Volume 40, Issue 5, November 1992, Pages 464-467
Urology

Incidence of testicular microlithiasis

https://doi.org/10.1016/0090-4295(92)90467-BGet rights and content

Abstract

In adults polytopic intratubular calcifications of the testes are rare. Known as testicular microlithiasis, they manifest themselves in a characteristic echo pattern on sonography with high frequency transducers (5 to 10 MHz). This consists of multiple echogenic specks in an otherwise normal testicular parenchyma. In a retrospective analysis of 1, 710 testicular sonograms of adults, bilateral intratesticular microliths were found in 11 cases (0.6%). In 5 of them, the microliths were associated with a testicular tumor. One patient with a tumor in the contralateral testis had undergone radiotherapy and another one presented with hypogonadism. Four patients with noncontributory histories presented with varicocele or epididymal cyst. Sonographic findings were confirmed histologically in 6 patients. Multiple intratubular calcifications were found in all of them. The pathogenesis of testicular microliths is still poorly understood. Their clinical relevance is unclear, but their incidence in adults appears to be higher than reported in the literature.

References (29)

  • C. Klinz et al.

    Bilaterale multizentrische Hodenkonkremente bei Carney-Syndrom

    Akt Urol

    (1991)
  • T. Coetzee

    Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with involvement of the sympathetic nervous system and gonads

    Thorax

    (1970)
  • T. Oiye

    Über anscheinend noch nicht beschriebene Steinchen in den menschlichen Hoden

    Beitr Pathol Anat

    (1928)
  • R.C. Bieger et al.

    Testicular intratubular bodies

    J Clin Endocrinol

    (1965)
  • Cited by (148)

    • Nonneoplastic Diseases of the Testis

      2020, Urologic Surgical Pathology
    • Testicular microlithiasis: Systematic review and Clinical guidelines

      2019, Progres en Urologie
      Citation Excerpt :

      Fifteen studies were identified regarding symptomatic population. In symptomatic patients, the testicular microlithiasis prevalence varied between 0.6% and 18.1% [14–28]. This wide range is certainly related to the retrospective nature of the majority of studies, the definition of microlithiasis and the quality of the ultrasound probe.

    • Implications of incidental finding of testicular microlithiasis in paediatric patients

      2012, Journal of Pediatric Urology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Nevertheless, the association of TM with testicular malignancy in the adult population has triggered much concern among many authors. They reported the risk of testicular tumours to be as high as 40–45% [8,19]. The increase in number of calcium deposits in the region of the neoplasm has been linked to a risk of malignancy.

    • Testicular microlithiasis: Case report and literature review

      2012, African Journal of Urology
      Citation Excerpt :

      The prevalence of primary testicular tumours in patients with testicular microlithiasis ranges from 15% to 45%. When the prevalence of testicular tumours in men with or without microlithiasis was compared, the prevalence was statistically significantly higher in the microlithiasis group [2,11]. Five definite cases of primary testicular malignancy arising in patients with documented pre-exiting testicular microlithiasis have been reported [3].

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text