Page 24 - SONO 260 Chapter 13 The Male Pelvis

PATHOLOGY OF THE SCROTUM VARICOCELE
• PRIMARY VARICOCELES ARE MOST OFTEN FOUND ON THE LEFT AND ARE PALPABLE.
• THEIR HIGH INCIDENCE ON THE LEFT IS THOUGHT TO BE CAUSED BY THE ELEVATED VASCULAR PRESSURE ON THE LEFT SIDE, OR POSSIBLY A RESULT OF THE LENGTHY LEFT TESTICULAR VEIN AND SHARP ANGLE AT WHICH IT ENTERS THE LEFT RENAL VEIN.
• WHEN FOUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THIS ABNORMALITY IS TERMED A SECONDARY VARICOCELE.
• SECONDARY VARICOCELES MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH HYDRONEPHROSIS, HEPATOMEGALY, OR A RETROPERITONEAL NEOPLASM.
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