Long-Term Follow-Up of Testicular Microlithiasis in Children and Adolescents: Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of the Italian Society of Pediatric Urology.

 Testicular microlithiasis (TM), characterized by the presence of intratubular calcifications in a single or both the gonads, is an uncommon entity with unknown etiology and outcome in pediatric and adolescent age. In this study, the results of a multicenter long-term survey are presented.  From 11 units of pediatric urology/surgery, patients with TM were identified and yearly, followed up in a 7-year period, adopting a specific database.

Retroperitoneoscopic renal surgery in children: our experience.

Background: Laparoscopic renal surgery has become an accepted approach for benign disease in adult and pediatric urology. We present our experience in renal laparoscopy in infants during the past 5 years and evaluate our series to establish the safety and efficacy of such procedures in children.

Materials And Methods: From August 1999 to December 2004, we performed 32 renal laparoscopic procedures on 31 children aged 12 months to 16 years (mean, 42 months).

Natural history of vesicoureteral reflux associated with kidney anomalies.

Objectives: To evaluate the cystographic follow-up of patients with multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK), renal agenesis, and renal ectopia with associated primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

Methods: Patients with primary associated VUR (grade 2 or more) and with a minimal follow-up of 24 months were included in this study.

Results: Of the children with renal agenesis, 24% had VUR.

The incidence of associated urological abnormalities in children with renal ectopia.

Purpose: We evaluate the incidence of associated urological abnormalities in children with renal ectopia (RE).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed database records of 99 consecutive pediatric cases of RE diagnosed at our hospital between 1988 and 2001.

Results: Mean patient age at diagnosis was 13 months (range 0 to 9 years, SD 2.

The adolescent varicocele: the crucial role of hormonal tests in selecting patients with testicular dysfunction.

Background/purpose: Early identification and treatment of varicocele during adolescence may reduce the risk of infertility. Prophylactic surgery on all adolescents with varicocele would be unnecessary surgery on a high percentage of them. Suggested guidelines for early intervention have included testicular volume loss and abnormality in the hormonal integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axes.