Testicular Biopsy in Infertile Men

Lee, Choong Hyun; Chai, Soo Eung

Abstract

Testicular biopsy is an important tool in the diagnosis and management of male infertility. Other types of analysis such as plasma hormonal assay, chromosomal studies and biochemical determination of ejaculate components have also a role in characterizing male infertility. There were 53 infertile males who received testicular biopsy in our department during the period from January, 1972 to June, 1982. A clinical investigation was undertaken in aspect of testicular size, past history, testicular biopsy findings and plasma hormonal level. The following results were obtained: 1. On semen analysis, oligospermia was found in 5 cases, azoospermia in 48 cases and the most common age group was 4th decade. 2. The biopsy findings of 41 cases with normal size testis were normal in 20 cases. hypospermatogenesis in 8 cases, peritubular fibrosis with reduced spermatogenesis in 4 cases. maturation arrest in 4 cases germinal aplasia in 4 cases, hyalinized seminiferous tubule with Leydig cell hyperplasia in 1 case. 3. The biopsy findings of 12 cases with small size testis were hypospermatogenesis in 3 cases. hyalinized seminiferous tubule with Leydig cell hyperplasia in 6 cases, peritubular fibrosis with reduced spermatogenesis in 1 case, maturation arrest in 1 case, germinal aplasia in 1 case. 4. There were 20 cases which had induration on epididymis or vas deferens. On their past history, gonorrheal urethritis in 7 cases, nonspecific epididymitis in 4 cases, tuberculous epididymitis in 3 cases, undetermined cause in 6 cases were observed. 5. The biopsy findings of 20 cases with indurated epididymis or vas deferens were normal in 13 cases, peritubularfibrosis with reduced spermatogenesis in 4 cases, hypospermatogenesis in 3 cases. 6. The plasma hormonal assay (FSH, LH, Testosterone) was performed in 8 cases.