OBJECTIVE: The literature regarding the constitutional type of children and adolescents with varicocele is inconsistent. The aim of this investigation was to examine a possible influence of weight, height and body mass index (BMI) on the formation of varicoceles during childhood and adolescence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective data analysis, 193 Caucasian children and adolescents aged 9-19 years (mean age 14.7 years) with left-sided varicocele grade 2-3 were studied. The weight, height and BMI of the subjects were compared with the age-correlated normal values currently accepted in Germany. Additionally, the familial disposition for varicocele and the occurrence of relevant concurrent diseases were considered. RESULTS: In the group of patients examined, the mean percentiles of weight (57th) and height (58th) were significantly above and the mean BMI percentile (42th) was significantly below the age-correlated 50th percentile for the normal population (p=0.019, 0.005 and 0.002). In our case material, 12.2% of all brothers of the patients had varicoceles. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation suggest a correlation between physical appearance and the formation of a varicocele during childhood or adolescence. We were able to demonstrate that patients with varicocele were heavier and taller than an age-correlated normal population, but had a distinctly lower BMI. Further studies are needed to verify whether this rather athletic habitus, together with the postulated difference in muscle:fat ratio, represents an important etiologic factor for varicocele formation.
OBJECTIVE: The literature regarding the constitutional type of children and adolescents with varicocele is inconsistent. The aim of this investigation was to examine a possible influence of weight, height and body mass index (BMI) on the formation of varicoceles during childhood and adolescence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective data analysis, 193 Caucasian children and adolescents aged 9-19 years (mean age 14.7 years) with left-sided varicocele grade 2-3 were studied. The weight, height and BMI of the subjects were compared with the age-correlated normal values currently accepted in Germany. Additionally, the familial disposition for varicocele and the occurrence of relevant concurrent diseases were considered. RESULTS: In the group of patients examined, the mean percentiles of weight (57th) and height (58th) were significantly above and the mean BMI percentile (42th) was significantly below the age-correlated 50th percentile for the normal population (p=0.019, 0.005 and 0.002). In our case material, 12.2% of all brothers of the patients had varicoceles. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation suggest a correlation between physical appearance and the formation of a varicocele during childhood or adolescence. We were able to demonstrate that patients with varicocele were heavier and taller than an age-correlated normal population, but had a distinctly lower BMI. Further studies are needed to verify whether this rather athletic habitus, together with the postulated difference in muscle:fat ratio, represents an important etiologic factor for varicocele formation.