Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Color Doppler Sonography for Evaluation of Azoospermic Patients

Mohamed H Khater

doi:10.4172/2168-9857.1000151

Abstract

Azoospermia is defined as the absence of spermatozoa in the semen. If no spermatozoa are observed in the wet preparation, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an examination of the centrifuged sample (3000 X g or greater for 15 minutes). Approximately 1% of all men in the general population suffer from azoospermia, and azoospermic men constitute approximately 10 to 15% of all infertile men. This work aims to investigate whether color Doppler ultrasound can detect active spermatogenic foci within azoospermic testis or not. Also to evaluate the technique of FNAC as an alternative method for qualitative and quantitative analysis compared with open testicular histopathology. This work was carried out on 150 patients, complaining of infertility for at least one year. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that color Doppler sonography represent promising methods for the assessment of patients affected by azoospermia allowing us to discriminate obstructive azoospermia (normal vessel distribution) from non-obstructive azoospermia (reduced or absent testicular vessels). FNAC of azoospermic testis is a cost-effective and safe method of evaluating male infertility.

Highlights

Azoospermia is defined as the absence of spermatozoa in the semen
The presence of a small number of spermatozoa in either of the centrifuged samples is defined as cryptozoospermia, and the complete absence of spermatozoa is defined as azoospermia [1]
The results of this study demonstrate that color Doppler Sonography represent promising methods for the assessment of patients affected by azoospermia allowing us to discriminate obstructive azoospermia from nonobstructive azoospermia

Summary

Introduction

Azoospermia is defined as the absence of spermatozoa in the semen. If no spermatozoa are observed in the wet preparation, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an examination of the centrifuged sample (3000 X g or greater for 15 minutes). If no sperm are observed in the centrifuged sample, the semen analysis should be repeated. The presence of a small number of spermatozoa in either of the centrifuged samples is defined as cryptozoospermia, and the complete absence of spermatozoa is defined as azoospermia [1]. 1% of all men in the general population suffer from azoospermia, and azoospermic men constitute approximately 10 to 15% of all infertile men. Azoospermia frequently represent the endpoint of pathological conditions that causes important quantitative and qualitative alteration of both spermatogenesis and testicular structure, including intratesticular blood supply [2]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion