Diagnosis is fairly simple through either physical or diagnostic examination.
- Varicoceles are typical on left side of scrotum.
- From the physical exam (visible), the scrotum looks like a "bag of worms."
- Testicle can shrink in size/atrophy.
- When varicoceles are not clearly present, the abnormal blood flow can often be detected with a noninvasive imaging exam called color flow ultrasound or through a venogram, an X-ray in which a special dye is injected into the veins to "highlight" blood vessel abnormalities.
Reprinted with permission of the Society of Interventional Radiology © 2004, www.SIRweb.org. All rights reserved.