Role of Ultrasound Volume Measurements of Testes in Evaluation of Infertile Men with Azoospermia.
- Author:
Min Hoan MOON
1
;
Ju Tae SEO
;
Yi Keong CHUN
;
Chang Kyu SUNG
;
Jeong Yeon CHO
;
Seung Hyup KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. mmhoan@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Ultrasonography;
Testis;
Azoospermia
- MeSH:
Azoospermia;
Biopsy;
Humans;
Male;
ROC Curve;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Testis
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Medical Ultrasound
2012;31(2):87-91
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to assess the usefulness of ultrasounddetermined testicular volume in the evaluation of the infertile men with azoospermia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A computerized search from October 2005 to June 2010 generated a list of 45 infertile men with azoospermia (mean age, 34 years; age range, 26-44 years) who underwent both scrotal ultrasound and testis biopsy. Ultrasounddetermined testicular volumes were compared between infertile men with obstructive azoospermia and those with non-obstructive azoospermia. RESULTS: Testicular volume for obstructive azoospermia ranged from 6.4 ml to 26.9 ml, with a median volume of 14.0 ml. This volume was significantly larger than that of those with non-obstructive azoospermia, which ranged from 1.0 ml to 12.8 ml, with a median volume of 6.1 ml (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for distinguishing non-obstructive azoospermia from obstructive azoospermia using testicular volume was 0.91. A cutoff value of less than or equal to 11.4 ml could distinguish non-obstructive azoospermia from obstructive azoospermia, with a sensitivity of 94.1% (95% CI; 71.3-99.9%) and a specificity of 73.3% (95% CI; 54.1-87.7%). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-determined testicular volume can be helpful in the differentiation of obstructive azoospermia from non-obstructive azoospermia.
