Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39080064›Full record

Observational studyEuropean radiology2025

Follow-up of non-palpable testicular incidentalomas under 1 cm: does growth rate differentiate malignant and non-malignant lesions?

Michele Bertolotto, Irene Campo, Simon Freeman, Francesco Lotti, Dean Y Huang, Laurence Rocher, Lucio Dell'Atti, Massimo Valentino, Pietro Pavlica, Paul S Sidhu and 1 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in European radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Michele BertolottoDepartment of Radiology, University of Trieste, Ospedale Di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy. bertolot@units.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5583-350X
Irene CampoDepartment of Radiology, University of Trieste, Ospedale Di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
Simon FreemanUniversity Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Imaging Directorate, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road Crownhill, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8DH, UK.
Francesco LottiDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
Dean Y HuangDepartment of Imaging Sciences, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Radiology, King's College London, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
Laurence RocherService de Radiologie, APHP, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, BIOMAPS, Université Paris-Saclay, 157 rue de la porte de trivaux, 92140, Clamart, France.
Lucio Dell'AttiUnit of Quality and Risk Management, Department of Urology, University-Hospital of Marche, Street Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
Massimo ValentinoDepartment of Radiology, Ospedale Sant'Antonio Abate, Via Giobatta Morgagni 18, 33028, Tolmezzo, UD, Italy.
Pietro PavlicaPrivate Hospital S. Maria Maddalena, Via Gorizia 2 - S. Maria Maddalena, 45030, Occhiobello, RO, Italy.
Paul S SidhuDepartment of Imaging Sciences, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Radiology, King's College London, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
Lorenzo E DerchiDipartimento di scienze della salute - DISSAL, Università di Genova, Via Pastore 1, 16132, Genova, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo determine whether small, incidentally detected testicular lesions can be safely followed up, by assessing growth rate and volume threshold for benign vs. malignant lesions.

methodsThis retrospective observational study includes a consecutive series of 130 testicular incidentalomas < 1 cm and with negative tumour markers identified from October 2001 to November 2022, which were initially followed up with ultrasound. A total of 39 cases proceeded to surgery during the study period, either due to lesion growth (n = 28) or patient preference/recommendation by the referring urologist (n = 11). For the lesions that were growing, specific growth rate (SGR) and doubling time (DT) were calculated assuming an exponential growth pattern. In addition, the velocity of increase of the average diameter (∆D

resultsOf the 130 nodules that were initially followed up, six disappeared, eight were reduced in size, eighty-eight were stable, and twenty-eight increased in size. For operated nodules all 18 malignant tumours, 8/9 benign tumours, and 2/12 surgically proved non-neoplastic lesions were growing. The best cut-off values of the growth indicators to differentiate between malignant and non-malignant histology were 3.47 × 10

conclusionsMalignant and non-malignant small incidentalomas can be effectively differentiated based on growing parameters, even though overlap exists. An increase of the maximum diameter of about 1 mm and 2 mm in three months and in six months, respectively, suggests malignancy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Growing parameters allow an educated assessment of benign and malignant small testicular incidentalomas. Non-aggressive management is justified and safe when follow-up includes self-examination and tumour marker assessment to reduce the risk of interval tumour growth. KEY POINTS: Small, non-palpable and asymptomatic testicular nodules < 1 cm are unexpectedly discovered during scrotal ultrasound. Growth indicators estimate the potential malignancy, even though overlap with non-malignant lesions exists. Non-growing incidentalomas can be safely followed up.

Indexed as

Testicular NeoplasmsAdultAgedDiagnosis, DifferentialFollow-Up StudiesHumansIncidental FindingsMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesUltrasonographyIncidental testicular tumour (histology)Non-palpable testicular tumours (imaging)Testicular incidentaloma (imaging)Testis lesion (growth rate)

Identifiers

PMID39080064
PMCPMC11782359

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.