Sonography in male infertility: a useful yet underutilized diagnostic tool.

PURPOSE: To assess the utility of comprehensive sonographic examination including scrotal sonography, Testicular Doppler and Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) to evaluate the male reproductive system and differentiate between obstructive (OG) and non-obstructive (NOG) causes of azoospermia. METHODS: 30 infertile men with azoospermia and 30 control subjects with normospermia underwent sonographic evaluation. FNAC/biopsy findings were used for assigning a final diagnosis of obstructive or non-obstructive azoospermia. Qualitative and quantitative imaging parameters were retrospectively compared between the groups using Chi-square/Fisher's exact test and unpaired t-test, respectively. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Ectasia of rete testis/epididymal tubules, altered epididymal echogenicity, dilated terminal vas deferens were significantly more common in OG while inhomogeneous testicular echo-texture and reduced testicular vascularity were more common in NOG (P < 0.05). Testicular volume and epididymal head size were significantly higher in OG than in NOG and controls (18.2 ml/10 mm Vs 8.2 ml/7.2 mm and 13.4 ml/8.8 mm respectively; P < 0.05); while Resistive Index (RI) of intra-testicular vessels was higher in NOG as compared to OG and controls (0.65 vs 0.54 and 0.52 respectively; P < 0.05). On ROC curve analysis, cut-off values of testicular volume (AUC: 0.939; P < 0.001), epididymal head size (AUC: 0.772; P = 0.001) and testicular RI (AUC: 0.761; P = 0.001) to differentiate between the groups were 12.1 ml (sensitivity-94.4%; specificity-83.3%), 9 mm (sensitivity-66.7%; specificity-71%) and 0.62 (sensitivity-62%; specificity-100%) respectively. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive sonographic evaluation can be used to differentiate obstructive from non-obstructive infertility and should be routinely incorporated in the diagnostic workup of infertile men with azoospermia.

Value of "Three Dimensional Multidetector CT Hysterosalpingography" in Infertile Patients with Non-Contributory Hysterosalpingography: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Infertility is a common health problem requiring imaging to delineate the anatomical causes in women. Three dimensional multi-detector computed tomography hysterosalpingography (3D-MDCT-HSG) offers an easy workup for uterine, tubal and peritoneal factors. METHODS: To present the spectrum of uterine, tubal and peritoneal factors on 3D-MDCT-HSG and determine its diagnostic accuracy for female factor infertility, a prospective study was conducted on 25 infertile women with non-diagnostic HSG from November 2012 to March 2014. Sixty four slice MDCT acquired the scan during pre-ovulatory phase by contrast instillation into uterine cavity. A blinded reviewer interpreted the 3D-MDCT-HSG and results were compared with final diagnosis made on hystero-laproscopy in 22 patients. Diagnostic accuracy of 3D-MDCT-HSG for various factors was expressed as sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value. RESULTS: MDCT-HSG demonstrated definite findings in 96% of patients having non-diagnostic HSG. In this study, tubal, uterine and peritoneal abnormalities were present in 68.75%, 56% and 32% of cases, respectively. 48 tubes in 25 patients were evaluated of which 22 tubes were blocked constituting the commonest finding present in 15 (60%) patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for uterine factors was 83.33%, 100%, 100% and 96.84%, respectively, for tubal factors 93.55%, 94.68%, 85.29% and 96.83%, respectively and for peritoneal factors 62.5%, 92%, 71.43% and 88.46%, respectively. Mean effective radiation dose was 1.76±0.18 mSv in MDCT-HSG. CONCLUSION: 3D-MDCT-HSG can detect various factors responsible for female infertility especially tubal and uterine; in cases where HSG fails to clearly delineate the pathology.