A medical calculator to determine testicular volumes matching ultrasound values from the width of the testis obtained in the scrotum with a centimeter ruler.

The determination of the testicular volume is of considerable importance to assess the onset, progression and disorders of puberty, abnormal testicular development, and a number of other conditions; and in adults, assessment of fertility. A number of clinical methods have been used for the measurement of testicular volumes in the scrotum: a centimeter ruler, sliding calipers, and orchidometers. All the clinical methods calculate the volumes by the ellipsoid equation, grossly overestimate ultrasound (US) volumes by 70 to 80% for adults, to 150 to 250% for prepubertal subjects, mainly because the inclusion of the scrotal skin and epididymis and may not be accurate of reproducible.

Erratum to: Appraisal of testicular volumes: volumes matching ultrasound values referenced to stages of genital development.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13633-017-0046-x.].

Appraisal of testicular volumes: volumes matching ultrasound values referenced to stages of genital development.

Background: Testicular volumes obtained with orchidometers or external linear measurements in the scrotum (centimeter ruler or calipers) grossly over-estimate ultrasound volumes, have much variability and may not be accurate or reproducible. The reference of the values obtained by orchidometers or US, to age or Tanner stages is not useful to determine the normal values for stages of puberty, because overlapping of ages and values. Pubertal development is determined by two events, genital and pubic hair development, that should be analyzed independently because one could be out of step with the other.

Growth hormone significantly increases the adult height of children with idiopathic short stature: comparison of subgroups and benefit.

Background: Children with Idiopathic Short Stature do not attain a normal adult height. The improvement of adult height with treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), at doses of 0.16 to 0.

Testicular volumes revisited: A proposal for a simple clinical method that can closely match the volumes obtained by ultrasound and its clinical application.

Background: The testicular volumes obtained with the clinical methods, calculated using the ellipsoid equation W2 x L x π/6, correlate with those obtained by ultrasound (US) and are useful clinically, but overestimate ultrasound values, mainly because of the inclusion of the scrotal skin and epididymis, have much variability, and may not be accurate or reproducible.The US measurement is somewhat inconvenient, because it requires another procedure and, mainly, is costly.It would be helpful to have a simple, low cost clinical method that approximates or closely matches the results obtained by ultrasound.