Between January 1986 and August 1989, four patients, whose urinary tuberculous cultures were positive, were treated in our hospital. They represented 0.66% of the total number of the new patiants who visited the outpatient department during this period. Also during the same period, two other patiants with unilateral old renal tuberculosis underwent nephrectomy.
Since the middle of this century, the development of chemotherapy has decreased the number of the patiants with urinary tuberculosis. However, there has been little decrease in recent several years, and our report supports this evidence. So, the possibility of urinary tuberculosis cannot be made light of in the urological examination, especially for the patiants with refractory urinary tract infection.

AIMTo determine the limitations of a punched-out orchidometer in practical use, we compared with a scrotal ultrasound (USG).

METHODSA total of 281 testes from 142 males were examined using both a punched-out orchidometer and a USG. The volume differential between both methods was calculated and expressed as orchidometer/USG volume (O/U ratio). Distribution of the O/U ratio was determined and subdivided by clinical or pathological diagnosis. The correlations between the O/U ratio and patient age or orchidometer results were assessed.

RESULTSThere was a significant linear relationship between the results of orchidometer and USG (r=0.94, P <0.0001). The relationship between the O/U ratio and age or testicular volumes showed significant inverse correlations (r=0.22, P=0.0002, r=0.45, P <0.0001, respectively). Klinefelter's syndrome, ipsilateral detorted testes and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism comparatively showed a high O/U ratio. No incidental lesion was detected by USG necessitating treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe punched-out orchidometer gives estimates that correlated well with the USG measurements and provides enough information for routine andrological evaluation. We should be aware that the orchidometer often overestimates the testicular volume, especially for the patients with small testis or adolescents.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palpation ; Reference Values ; Scrotum ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Testis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography