Combined Supine and Standing Imaging for Varicocele: An Improved Diagnostic Approach.

Abstract

Varicocele, one of the main diseases affecting male reproductive health, relies heavily on angiographic diagnostic techniques for disease-related examination and assessment. Traditional varicocele angiography often employs a supine position to facilitate the relaxation of the groin area muscles, the insertion of the angiography catheter, and imaging. However, the supine position may cause blood reflux, thus underestimating the clinical incidence of varicocele, particularly resulting in missed diagnoses of right-sided or bilateral varicoceles. To address this issue, this study proposes the combined use of supine and standing positions for varicocele imaging. The standing position increases lower abdominal pressure, making the degree of varicosity more prominent in the images. Compared to the sole use of the supine position, the method employed in this study effectively reduces the misdiagnosis rate of right-sided or bilateral varicoceles. This approach aims to facilitate the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of varicocele, effectively reducing the potential threat of the disease to male reproductive health. It also helps improve the accuracy of disease assessment, providing more references for selecting subsequent treatment plans.