Diagnosis of Sub-clinical Varicocele by Means of Infrared Functional Imaging

Infrared Functional Imaging (IRFI) was used to detect sub-clinical varicocele. The evaluation of varicocele related hyperthermia and the different thermal properties of healthy and unhealthy testicles were used to detect the presence of the disease. A mild cold thermal stress performed on the scrotal region highlighted differences in the thermal recovery between the contralateral testicles and pampiniform plexuses . Mismatches in the equilibrium temperatures and in the recovery curves were used as objective parameters to infer the presence of varicocele, in a sub-clinical stages. 60 subjects, without any previous varicocele related symptoms, underwent the IRFI. 22 subjects out of the 60 showed abnormal values of the chosen parameters; clinical and Echo-Color-Doppler examination confirmed the presence of a sub-clinical first or second degree varicocele.