Adolescent varicocelectomy: postoperative catch-up growth is not secondary to lymphatic ligation

PurposeThe major indication for adolescent varicocelectomy is testicular asymmetry with the left testicle smaller than the right. Catch-up growth following surgery is one of the parameters used to assess efficacy of surgery. However, it is not clear whether this represents true tissue growth or increased interstitial fluid secondary to lymphatic obstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare catch-up growth in patients who underwent varicocelectomy with and without lymphatic preservation.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed 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.ResultsAfter a mean follow up of 24.7 months, catch-up growth was achieved in 62.8% of patients. There was no significant difference between the groups in regard to catch-up growth (51.7% vs 66.3%, P = 0.193).ConclusionsSince no significant difference was found between the laparoscopic nonlymphatic sparing and laparoscopic lymphatic sparing varicocelectomies, we conclude that lymphatic obstruction is not the cause of catch-up growth.