UroToday.com - Typically, catch-up growth following varicocelectomy is one of the parameters used to assess the efficacy of surgery. There has always been debate whether this represents true testicular growth or increased interstitial fluid secondary to lymphatic obstruction.

Dr. Stephen Poon, et al retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 136 boys (mean age 15.1 years) who had 10% or greater preoperative testicular asymmetry and underwent varicocelectomy between 1997 and 2006. Surgery was either a laparoscopic nonlymphatic sparing or laparoscopic lymphatic sparing varicocelectomy. All patients had pre- and postoperative ultrasound volume measurements at least 6 months following surgery. The groups were compared for incidence of postoperative catch-up growth, achieving less than 10% testicular asymmetry…