BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - A study by Dr. E.A.M. Kuijper et al. from the Netherlands was performed to establish ultrasonographically measured normative data for testicular volumes in boys from newborn to 6 years of age. They evaluated a total of 344 boys from different ethnic backgrounds. The same ultrasound machine was utilized for all the boys. Testicular volume was calculated using length x width x height x (pi/6). Unfortunately the same ultrasonographer was not utilized for all the children.

Nonetheless the group found there were no differences either between the various ethnic groups or between the left and right testis. The mean testicular volume was compared between the different age categories. They found that the mean testicular volume increased significantly during the first 5 months of life from 0.27(3) to 0.44 cm(3) with a relative decrease in the volume to 0.31 cm(3) at approximately 9 months. During the following years, testicular volume remained stable.

This is the first study that provided normalized values for ultrasonographically measured testicular volumes in boys less than 6 years of age. The ultrasound appears to be a valid method to assess testicular volume, and this method will allow the detection of minor changes in volume that cannot be picked up by an orchiodometer.

Kuijper EA, van Kooten J, Verbeke JI, van Rooijen M, Lambalk CB

Hum Reprod. 2008 Apr;23(4):792-6
doi:10.1093/humrep/den021

PubMed Abstract
PMID: 18281246

UroToday.com Pediatric Urology Section

Written by Pasquale Casale, MD, a Contributing Editor with UroToday.

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