精索靜脈曲張男性睪丸內部脈動與阻力指數分析

Intratesticular Arterial Pulsatility and Resistance Index in Males with Scrotal Varicocele

背景：以杜卜勒超音波，分析精索靜脈曲張患者與健康人睪丸內部脈動指數與阻力指數之間的差異。材料及方法：我們將那些接受過睪丸超音波的患者納入研究分析，利用12-MHz 的強力杜卜勒超音波來測量睪丸內部動脈的脈動指數與阻力指數，此外靜脈曲張的程度是依照身體檢查來判斷。結果： 共有44 名左側精索靜脈曲張患者以及12 名健康男性納入本研究，這兩組的右側睪丸的脈動指數及阻力指數是差不多的(p=0.31 及0.404)，然而病患的左側睪丸比健康者有較高的阻力指數(p=0.013)。病患的左側睪丸比右側有較高的阻力指數，也比較小(p=0.036 及0.001)，此外在於不同程度的靜脈曲張中尚未發現在脈動指數、阻力指數及睪丸大小上有顯著差異。結論：研究結果發現阻力指數在精索靜脈曲張患者較高，因此我們認為精索靜脈曲張對於睪丸內部的血流狀況有顯著影響。

Background: To investigate difference in intratesticular arterial pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) between varicocele and healthy testes using power Doppler ultrasonography. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing scrotal ultrasonography were recruited. PI and RI of the intratesticular artery were measured using a 12-MHz power Doppler ultrasound, and varicocele grades were obtained by physical examination. Results: Forty-four males with left scrotal varicocele and 12 healthy males were included. PI and RI were similar in the right testis between groups (p = 0.31 and 0.404, respectively), but significantly higher RI in the left varicocele testis (p = 0.013). The left testes of varicocele patients had a higher RI and smaller size than their right testes (p= 0.036 and 0.001, respectively). No significant differences in PI, RI, and testicular size between different varicocele grades were observed. Conclusions: The study findings reveal that RI was higher in the varicocele testis. Thus, varicocele may have influence in the vascularity and circulation within the testis.