III степень (видимое на глаз расширение вен гроздьевидного сплетения).

While physical examination is often sufficient for diagnosis, scrotal Doppler ultrasonography provides valuable confirmatory and quantitative information. Ultrasound criteria for varicocele include dilation of the pampiniform plexus vessels to 2-3 mm or more and demonstration of venous reflux during Valsalva maneuver. Ultrasound can also assess:

Research during this period, such as that by A.V. Lyulko in 1981, focused on the hormonal status of boys with large varicoceles, noting significant changes in steroid excretion in those aged 14–16. International research in 1982, specifically by Ito H. et al. , began identifying higher concentrations of prostaglandins in the internal spermatic vein compared to peripheral blood, highlighting the physiological impact of the condition.

Until the 20th century, the diagnosis of varicocele relied primarily on visual examination and palpation, often with the Valsalva maneuver to accentuate the venous dilation. The 1980s, however, witnessed significant advancements in diagnostic modalities. Contrast venography (phlebography) emerged as a more definitive tool, allowing direct visualization of venous reflux and providing precise anatomical information. For a time, phlebography was considered the “gold standard” for varicocele diagnosis. Its major drawback, however, was high invasiveness, which limited its routine use in children.

During the early 1980s, the Soviet medical system recognized a sharp rise in adult male infertility. Pediatric urologists and andrologists traced this issue back to asymptomatic conditions originating in early adolescence. The 1982 film "Varikotsele u detey" was commissioned as a tool for public health awareness and clinical education.

Varikotsele u Detey (1982): A Historical Milestone and Modern Perspectives on Pediatric Varicocele