The Value of Physical Examination for the Diagnosis of Varicocele

Varicoceles have been described as a “grape-sized mass” [8], a “palpable scrotal varicosity” [7], or an “abnormal dilatation and coiling of the veins within the plexus pampiniformis” [1] of varying degree. There are many more similar characterizations of varicoceles [9], and all are based on an alteration of scrotal veins perceptible by palpation. Whether palpability really is a common feature of varicoceles has been made dubious by the discovery of the nonpalpable “subclinical” varicocele [3].