Ultrasound measurements of testicular volume: Comparing the three common formulas with the true testicular volume determined by water displacement

  • TU Mbaeri
  • JC Orakwe
  • AME Nwofor
  • CK Oranusi
  • OO Mbonu

Abstract

Objective: To determine the accuracy of various ultrasound formulas for measuring the testicular volume in humans by comparing the resultant measurements with the actual testicular volume. Subjects and methods: The testicular volume of 121 testes from 62 patients with prostate cancer (mean age 72.7 ± 9.4) was measured using ultrasonography before therapeutic bilateral orchidectomy. The ultrasound measurements of the testicular volume were calculated using the following three formulas: (a) length (L)× width (W) × height (H) × 0.52; (b) L × W2 × 0.52 and (c) L × W × H × 0.71. The actual testicular volume was determined by water displacement of the testis. Results: The mean actual testicular volume was 10.6 ± 3.5 ml. A strong correlation was found between the actual testicular volume and the volume calculated by the three-ultrasound formulas (r = 0.853–0.871, p = 0.0001). The smallest mean difference from the actual testicular volume was observed with the formula L × W × H × 0.71, which underestimated the actual volume by 0.4 ml (3.9%). Conclusion: The results of this study show that ultrasonography and the formula L × W × H × 0.71 are the most accurate method for the calculation of the testicular volume.

Keywords: Testicular volume; Measurement; Ultrasound; Water displacement

African Journal of Urology (2013) 19, 69–73

Author Biographies

TU Mbaeri
Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
JC Orakwe
Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
AME Nwofor
Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
CK Oranusi
Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
OO Mbonu
Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
Published
2013-06-01
Section
Articles

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eISSN: 1110-5704