DOI: 10.5176/2382-5685_VETSCI13.14
Authors: A. Junaidi and G.B. Martin
Abstract:
The present study aims to compare the accuracy with which calipers and ultrasonography can be used to measure the length, width and height of testes in 10 dogs and then estimate testicular volume and mass. Volume and mass were calculated using two formulae, based on an ellipsoid or on a prolate spheroid. The organs were then collected postmortem and weighed to determine true mass, and subjected to water displacement to determine true volume. True testicular volumes ranged from 7.8 to 11 mL (mean 9.3 mL; n = 20) and were strongly related to both the ultrasound-derived and caliper-derived estimates, with both formulae (r2 values around 0.90; P < 0.0001). The indirect techniques all underestimated the volume by 4-10{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}. For testicular mass, relationships were again all significant (P < 0.0001) but the accuracy was slightly lower (r2 values around 0.75) for both formulae and both measurement techniques. The indirect techniques all underestimated real mass by 5-10{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}. Generally, the formulae based on an ellipsoid were more accurate than those based on a prolate spheroid. We conclude that, for adult dogs, ultrasonography and calipers provide good estimates of very similar accuracy for volume and mass of testes, especially when combined with the formula for an ellipsoid. Ultrasonography can provide slightly better estimates, but calipers are reliable, inexpensive and easy to use, so would still be useful in clinical practice.
Keywords: canine, testicular weight
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