A subset of men with prostate cancer have elevated periprostatic androgens compared with levels in peripheral blood (termed the sneaky T phenomenon), which are associated with poor clinical outcomes after radical prostatectomy. These androgens are of testicular origin and reach the prostate, presumably through venous shunting. Varicocele physiology is accompanied by increased hydrostatic pressure within the pelvic venous system, providing a theoretical mechanistic explanation for the sneaky T phenomenon. These observations suggest a potential role for varicocele in contributing to prostate cancer pathophysiology through sneaky T, which if proved, could be a further indication for varicocele repair. Sneaky T can help to explain the differences in the natural history of benign or malignant prostatic diseases between individuals and could be a tool when deciding on the therapeutic course to take.

与外周血相比，前列腺癌男性亚群雄激素水平升高（称为偷偷摸摸的 T 现象），这与根治性前列腺切除术后的不良临床结果有关。这些雄激素来源于睾丸，可能通过静脉分流到达前列腺。精索静脉曲张生理学伴有盆腔静脉系统内静水压力增加，为偷偷摸摸的 T 现象提供了理论机制解释。这些观察结果表明，精索静脉曲张通过偷偷摸摸的 T 在促进前列腺癌病理生理学方面具有潜在作用，如果得到证实，这可能是精索静脉曲张修复的进一步适应症。Sneaky T 可以帮助解释个体之间良性或恶性前列腺疾病自然史的差异，并且可以成为决定采取的治疗方案的工具。