Application of Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy in the diagnosis of varicocele in children and adolescents

Abstract

Varicocele is a venous anomaly characterized by the enlargement of the plexus of veins in the testicle. In pediatric cases, indications for surgical intervention in varicocele include palpable dilatation of the enlargement of the plexus veins, intermittent pain in the ipsilateral testicle, and a 20% reduction in size of the ipsilateral testicle compared to the contralateral healthy one. The limitations of evaluating these criteria and the need to assess semen parameters prompt clinicians to explore new diagnostic methods for timely surgical interventions in adolescents. One such promising study involves Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) in the Near-infrared range. The aim of the research is to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of NIRS in children with varicocele to determine the indications for surgical intervention. The study included 65 boys aged 11 to 17 years with left-sided grade III varicocele (main group) and 29 healthy boys as a control group. Monitoring of regional oxygen saturation (rSO₂) of testicular tissues was conducted using optical spectroscopy. NIRS examination of testicular tissues in both study and control groups showed statistically homogeneous data for regional oxygen saturation in the healthy (right) testicle. However, the NIRS study revealed significantly lower oxygen saturation (rSO₂) in the testicular tissue of the left testicle in patients with varicocele compared to the control group. The diagnostic significance of the difference in bilateral NIRS monitoring Δ rSO₂ >13% reliably characterized the presence of testicular hypotrophy by more than 20% compared to the healthy contralateral side (AUC=0.64, 95% CI (0.505-0.775), sensitivity – 79%, specificity – 50%, p=0.042). Δ rSO₂ >11% values indicated disturbances in spermogram related to oxidative stress (AUC=0.702, 95% DI (0.51-0.88), sensitivity – 82%, specificity – 61%, p=0.031). Therefore, NIRS study data have potential valuable information for the diagnosis and selection of treatment for varicocele in children. The research utilizing Near-infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy revealed a significant potential of this method for diagnosing and assessing the impact of varicocele on the microcirculation of testicular tissue in children. The diagnostic significance of the difference in bilateral monitoring using this non-invasive technique in determining the state of testicles and the possibility of addressing the question of the necessity of surgical intervention is established.