Background: Reference values are necessary in clinical practice in order to correctly evaluate testicular volume and detect disorders.
Objectives: The objective of this prospective cross-sectional study was to evaluate reference values for testicular volume dependent on age, height, and weight in boys aged 0-18 years.
Material and methods: During their inpatient stay, the testes of 174 boys, who were free of disease or therapy that might influence testicular development, were examined by sonography. High resolution ultrasound transducers ranging from 7.5-14 MHz were used for evaluation. The testicular volume was calculated by the ellipsoid formula: length • width • height • (π/6).
Results: The subject age ranged from 0-18 years (average 7.1 ± 5.3 years). At the age of 0-8 years, the left testicular volume (1.2 ml) was less than the right testicular volume (1.3 ml). At the age of 13 years, the testicular volume of all subjects was over 3 ml. Left testicular volume of boys aged 16.5-18 years ranged from 7 to 22 ml and the right testicular volume ranged from 6 to 22 ml.
Conclusion: Reference value tables of testicular volume dependent on age, and for the first time dependent on weight and height in boys aged from 0-18 years were compiled. Tables of testicular length, width, and height dependent on age are provided.
Keywords: Adolescent, male; Child; Reference values; Testes; Ultrasonography.