Incidence characteristics of testicular microlithiasis and its association with risk of primary testicular tumors in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background To systematically evaluate the incidence characteristics of testicular microlithiasis(TM)in children and its association with primary testicular tumors(PTT).Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis(PRISMA)statement.A priori protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database(CRD42018111119),and a literature search of all relevant studies published until February 2019 was performed.Prospective,retrospective cohort,or cross-sectional studies containing ultrasonography(US)data on the incidence of TM or the association between TM and PTT were eligible for inclusion.Results Of the 102 identified articles,18 studies involving 58,195 children were included in the final analysis.The overall incidence of TM in children with additional risk factors for FTT was 2.1%.In children,the proportion of left TM in unilateral cases was 55.7%,the frequency of bilateral TM was 69.0%,and proportion of classic TM was 71.8%[95%confidence interval(Cl)62.4-81.1%,P=0.0,72=0.0%].About 93.5%of TM remained unchanged,and newly detected PTT rate was very low(4/296)during follow-up.The overall risk ratio of TM in children with a concurrent diagnosis of PTT was 15.46(95%Cl 6.93-34.47,P<0.00001).Conclusions The incidence of TM in children is highly variable.Nonetheless,TM is usually bilateral,of the classic type,and remains stable or unchanged at follow-up.Pediatric patients with TM and contributing factors for PTT have an increased risk for PTT;however,there is no evidence to support mandatory US surveillance of children with TM.

Long-term follow-up results of testicular torsion in children

December 2020 to investigate the long-term follow-up results after testicular torsion(TT)in children.Boys with TT were divided into the salvage orchiopexy group and the orchiectomy group,and the baseline characteristics,ultrasonographic indications,intraoperative findings,testicular volumes,and adverse events during follow-up were compared.A total of 145 cases were included in this study.Approximately 56.6%of patients who underwent salvage orchiopexy had testicular atrophy(TA),and the median testicular volume loss of the testes was 57.4%.Age less than 6 years,delayed surgery,and intraoperative poor blood supply were associated with TA in pediatric TT after orchiopexy.Most atrophied testes appeared within 3-6 months after surgery.Compared with the corresponding age-matched healthy controls,the contralateral testicular volumes were larger in the orchiopexy(P=0.o01 without TA,and P=0.042 with TA)and orchiectomy groups(P=0.033).The adverse events were comparable in patients with orchiectomy or orchiopexy.In summary,follow-up before 3 months after surgery may not offer sufficient clinical value,while that 3 months after surgery should be regarded as the first follow-up time for testicular monitoring.The contralateral testes of patients with TT showed compensatory hypertrophy.We suggest performing orchiectomy when torsed testes are surgically assessed as Arda gradeⅢor inviable.