[Percutaneous, laparoscopic, and surgical treatment of idiopathic varicocele: analysis of costs].

Idiopathic varicocele can compromise the spermatogenetic function of the testicle and associate with alterations of the semen quality. The treatment of varicocele stops the progress of testicular damage and improves spermatogenesis and semen parameters. These are the main alternatives to the traditional surgical treatment of varicocele retrograde percutaneous occlusion of the internal spermatic vein using sclerosing agents and embolizing devices (either separately or in combination), microsurgical ligation via inguinal or sub-inguinal approach, laparoscopic ligation and, more recently, antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy. None of these techniques can be considered the "gold standard" therapy. Literature does not point out any significant difference between them, either considering the absence of reflux percentage, or the improvement of semen quality, or the pregnance rate. Therefore cost comparison may be a valid criterion in the choice of treatment for varicocele correction. The total cost of the surgical retroperitoneal unilateral ligation of the internal spermatic vein is 968,805 Lire, while for the bilateral ligation it is 1,118,285 Lire. The costs of sclerotherapy and percutaneous embolization are respectively of 698,750 Lire and 1,708,950 Lire. The combination of the two techniques amounts to 1,918,230 Lire. Laparoscopic bilateral ligation costs 2,437,935 Lire. Antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy costs 191,035 Lire if unilateral, 216,580 Lire if bilateral. After considering these data we can say that antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy is the first choice economically in the treatment of both unilateral and bilateral varicocele.