Symptom Finder - Testicular Atrophy
TESTICULAR ATROPHY
The causes of this sign can best be recalled by using the mnemonic VINDICATE.
V—Vascular conditions bring to mind varicoceles, which cause atrophy on the side of the dilated veins.
I—Inflammation recalls the atrophy following mumps, orchitis, and other causes of epididymo-orchitis.
N—Neoplasms suggest the atrophy that occurs in the estrogen treatment of prostatic carcinoma.
D—Degenerative disorders suggest the atrophy resulting from aging.
I—Intoxication should remind one of the atrophy resulting from chronic alcoholism, Laennec cirrhosis, and hemochromatosis. X-ray exposure may also produce atrophy.
C—Congenital disorders recall undescended testes and torsion.
A—Autoimmune and allergic disorders suggest nothing.
T—Trauma reminds one of the atrophy following vasectomy and
accidental ligation of the blood supply during hernia repair.
E—Endocrine disorders suggest the atrophy of hypopituitarism,
Klinefelter syndrome, and other eunuchoidal states.
Approach to the Diagnosis
The workup of testicular atrophy may require a chromatin analysis, serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and biopsy, but referral to an endocrinologist is the best way to get this accomplished with accuracy.
Other Useful Tests
1. Sperm count
2. VDRL (syphilis)
3. Serum iron and iron-binding capacity (hemochromatosis)
4. Liver biopsy (hemochromatosis)
5. Electromyogram (EMG) (myotonic dystrophy)
6. Urology consult
7. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain (pituitary
insufficiency)
The causes of this sign can best be recalled by using the mnemonic VINDICATE.
V—Vascular conditions bring to mind varicoceles, which cause atrophy on the side of the dilated veins.
I—Inflammation recalls the atrophy following mumps, orchitis, and other causes of epididymo-orchitis.
N—Neoplasms suggest the atrophy that occurs in the estrogen treatment of prostatic carcinoma.
D—Degenerative disorders suggest the atrophy resulting from aging.
I—Intoxication should remind one of the atrophy resulting from chronic alcoholism, Laennec cirrhosis, and hemochromatosis. X-ray exposure may also produce atrophy.
C—Congenital disorders recall undescended testes and torsion.
A—Autoimmune and allergic disorders suggest nothing.
T—Trauma reminds one of the atrophy following vasectomy and
accidental ligation of the blood supply during hernia repair.
E—Endocrine disorders suggest the atrophy of hypopituitarism,
Klinefelter syndrome, and other eunuchoidal states.
Approach to the Diagnosis
The workup of testicular atrophy may require a chromatin analysis, serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and biopsy, but referral to an endocrinologist is the best way to get this accomplished with accuracy.
Other Useful Tests
1. Sperm count
2. VDRL (syphilis)
3. Serum iron and iron-binding capacity (hemochromatosis)
4. Liver biopsy (hemochromatosis)
5. Electromyogram (EMG) (myotonic dystrophy)
6. Urology consult
7. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain (pituitary
insufficiency)
