Testicular microlithiasis is a fairly serious disease that doctors diagnose as a precursor to cancer. It affects not only adult men, but also young men during puberty. Pathology is detected, usually by accident, during an ultrasound examination.
Testicular microlithiasis in boys - what is it?
In the medical literature you can find another name for the disease - "starry sky." Such a definition may seem strange if you do not pay attention to its manifestations. During the ultrasound diagnosis, the doctor can detect many small white spots that are localized in the testes. On a black background, they resemble the location of stars in the sky. These stars are microcalcinosis (small stones formed from calcium and desquamated epithelium of the seminiferous tubules). Neoplasms have different shapes and sizes, can be diffuse or focus in a certain area.
Varieties of pathology
If during the ultrasound examination the doctor detects microlithiasis, he immediately determines the type of pathological process. Distinguish between limited and classic variants of the disease.
In the first case, a small amount of calcifications is observed, and in the second - more than 5 units in the field of view. Limited testicular microlithiasis requires regular monitoring to prevent its transformation into a classic form. Neoplasms can block the vas deferens and urinary ducts, which leads to suppuration and multiple abscesses. In the absence of timely treatment, the young man is threatened with infertility, the development of the oncological process.
Main reasons
There are no specific clinical manifestations of the disease. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend that males periodically undergo a medical examination. Microlithiasis is one of the common causes of cancer in men under 40 years old.
Despite the almost complete absence of symptoms, to prevent the disease, doctors managed to identify a group of provoking factors. These include:
- a history of scrotal injury;
- varicocele;
- inflammatory pathologies (e.g. orchitis);
- previous chemotherapy;
- torsion, testicular atrophy;
- cryptorchidism;
- congenital chromosomal abnormality;
- false hermaphroditism;
- genital surgery
Testicular microlithiasis in men is found in 5% of cases when examined to identify the cause of infertility. People with a genetic predisposition to cancer processes need to be regularly diagnosed. The likelihood of developing a tumor exists even in the absence of risk factors.
Clinical picture
Calcinates practically do not manifest themselves. The only thing that can alert parents is the child’s anxiety amid discomfort in the testicles. He can periodically scratch the scrotum or in other ways try to touch it. Pain and fever are absent.
Sometimes parents themselves may suspect testicular microlithiasis in a child. For example, during inspection or when swimming. An obvious sign will be minor swelling or enlarged testicles. If the neoplasms are large, they can be palpated by hand.
Diagnostic Methods
The most informative method for diagnosing pathology is an ultrasound examination. However, using an outdated device may distort the results. In this case, the urogenital sensor is an alternative. If there is none, it is recommended to resort to the help of computed tomography.
If there is a suspicion of testicular microlithiasis, doctors advise using several diagnostic methods in order to recognize small tumors in a timely manner. It can be:
- diaphanoscopy;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
- blood test for tumor markers;
- MRI
After a comprehensive examination of the body, the doctor receives a complete clinical picture. All types of proposed tests are gentle. They will not harm either the physical condition of the young patient, nor his morale.
Treatment methods
Self-treatment of testicular microlithiasis is unacceptable. Even after receiving the results of the analyzes, a specialist should decipher them. Therefore, if you suspect an ailment, you must immediately go to the urologist. The doctor will hear complaints, conduct an examination and schedule an examination. After it and with confirmation of the preliminary diagnosis, therapy is selected. It is always individual and may include the following activities:
- Hardware cleaning or hemodialysis. This procedure is resorted to in exceptional cases. It is necessary to cleanse the blood of pathological inclusions.
- Reception of diuretics. Medications are used to remove excess fluid from the body.
- Preparations for vasodilatation. Contribute to the improvement of blood circulation and metabolism.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Physiotherapeutic treatment.
For children under three years of age, hemodialysis is contraindicated.
Traditional medicine is powerless in this matter. Her recipes can be used only to strengthen immunity and after consulting a doctor.
Operation
The question of surgical treatment of testicular microlithiasis in men has not been fully studied. Some doctors are sure that there is no need for surgery. Removing calcifications, it is impossible to simultaneously eliminate the cause of the disease. In addition, during the intervention, healthy tissues adjacent to the pathological are affected. This contributes to overall decompensation.
However, other experts hold a different point of view. They believe that surgery is possible in adult men, but children under one year of age are not recommended. The intervention provides for preliminary training. The patient must have blood chemistry, coagulation analysis and urine culture. In addition, you should consult with the anesthetist about possible contraindications. The operation is performed using local or general anesthesia. The choice of a specific method depends on the stage of the pathological process, the amount of calcifications and the general well-being of the patient.
If the operation is performed endoscopically, no scars or scars remain on the skin after it. After it, the use of a special suspension is prescribed to reduce pressure. The wearing of a bandage belt is also shown, through which the scrotum is firmly fixed, which helps to speed up the healing process.
Possible complications
The prognosis for recovery with the timely detection of even microlithiasis in both testicles is positive. If the patient ignores the symptoms and is in no hurry to seek medical help, complications may arise. Among them, the most common is an infection in the neoplasm, which over time can spread to other organs. In adulthood, a man may have difficulty conceiving a child. When examined by a specialist, the final diagnosis will sound like "infertility."
Conclusion
Testicular microlithiasis is a cyst, or accumulation of small calcifications. The disease is still poorly understood. Therefore, after identifying the pathology, many patients are in a difficult situation. Some doctors prescribe medication, and then proceed to surgery. Others, on the contrary, speak of expectant tactics and the absence of the need for specific therapy. However, the disease is dangerous by the progression and malignancy of the pathological process.
Recent studies have shown that increased calcium levels in the body can trigger the development of the disease. To assess the mineral content in the body, it is enough to take blood biochemistry, urinalysis. In some cases, the body can cope with a deficiency of vitamins and minerals independently. And withdrawing their excess is a rather difficult task. With elevated calcium levels, in addition to the therapeutic recommendations of doctors, you need to change the diet. For some time, you will have to abandon calcium-containing products, drink more green tea, since it is characterized by a diuretic effect.
As a preventive measure, doctors advise timely detection and treatment of inflammatory processes of the genitourinary sphere. Any pathologies of this system eventually pass into the chronic stage and do not pass on their own.