[Late - onset hypogonadism syndrome related to testicular echogenicity alterations]

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the presence of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) syndrome in men and alterations in testicular echogenicity in a rural population sample.

Materials and methods: Prospective observational cohort study in which men between 45 and 75 years old from Villarta de San Juan area (Ciudad Real) were included. In order to determine the incidence of HIT, each patient was administered the AMSS test, a blood test to determine the concentration of testosterone, and a bilateral testicular ultrasound was performed.

Results: 287 patients were included in the study. The diagnosis of LOH syndrome was established in 9.76% of them. 154 bilateral testicular ultrasounds were performed in which their testicular echogenicity patterns were evaluated. In 72.7% of the cases, alterations could be described in accordance with the standards proposed by the European Academy of Andrology of the year 2022. Testicular echogenicity evaluated by ultrasound demonstrated a sensitivity of 72.7%, a specificity of 78.8%, a negative predictive value of 94.5% and a positive predictive value of 36.4%, for the diagnosis of LOH.

Conclusions: The determination of testicular echogenicity in patients with suspected LOH syndrome showed much greater specificity than the AMSS test and a similar negative predictive value. Based on its innocuousness and the fact that it is a relatively simple examination from a technical point of view, it could be postulated as a diagnostic tool to be taken into account in the identification of this syndrome.

Keywords: Aging; Ecografía; Envejecimiento; Hipogonadismo; Hypogonadism; Testicles; Testosterona; Testosterone; Testículos; Ultrasound.