[Non-invasive imaging procedures in the diagnosis and control of therapy of varicoceles. 2. Importance of thermography and sonography for therapy control following sclerotherapy of varicoceles].

In 41 patients with varicoceles, a combined thermographic and sonographic examination of the scrotum was carried out pretherapeutically as well as 14 days and 3 months after percutaneous sclerotherapy. In the differentiation of a successful sclerosing or a varicocele persistence, thermography shows a higher sensitivity than sonography with 34 posttherapeutic normal findings and 7 persisting hyperthermias. The sonographic sign of a successful varicosclerosation is the absence of venous dilation of the pampiniform plexus in an upright position with Valsalva's manoeuvre in 36 patients. After proximal sclerosing of the testicular vein sonography reveals a reduction in vascular size; thrombosed veins of the pampiniform plexus are demonstrated only after distal sclerosing. There are no sonographically detectable disorders of the testes after varicosclerosation. Thermographic and sonographic control after percutaneous sclerotherapy or surgical ligation of varicoceles is indicated in children and in doubtful clinical or spermatological cases.