Reliability of testicular stiffness quantification using shear wave elastography in predicting male fertility: a preliminary prospective study.
Med Ultrason
; 20(2): 141-147, 2018 May 02.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29730678
ABSTRACT
AIMS:
To evaluate the reliability of testicular stiffness quantification using shear wave elastography in predicting the fertility potential of males and for the pre-diagnosis of disorders based upon sperm quantification. MATERIAL ANDMETHODS:
One hundred males between the ages of 19-49 years (mean age of 28.77±6.11), ninety of whom with complaints of infertility, were enrolled in this prospective study. Scrotal grey-scale, Doppler ultrasound (US), and mean testicular shear wave velocity quantifications (SWVQs) were performed. The volumes of testes, as well as the grade of varicocele if present, were recorded. The mean shear wave velocity values (SWVVs) of each testis and a mean testicular SWVV for each patient were calculated. The semen-analyses of patients were consecutively performed.RESULTS:
There were significant negative correlations between the mean testicular SWVVs of patients and their sperm counts or the testis volumes (r=-0.399, r=-0.565; p<0.01, respectively). A positive correlation was found between testicular volumes and sperm counts (r=0.491, p<0.01). The cut-off values regarding mean testicular SWVV to distinguish normal sperm count from azoospermia and oligozoospermia were 1.465 m/s (75.0% sensitivity and 75.0% specificity) and 1.328 m/s (64.3% sensitivity and 68.2% specificity), respectively, and the value to distinguish oligozoospermia from azoospermia was 1.528 m/s (66.7% sensitivity, 60.7% specificity).CONCLUSION:
The mean testicular SWVQ using the ARFI shear wave technique was a reliable, non-invasive and acceptably stable method for predicting male infertility, especially related to sperm count issues.
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Testículo
/
Técnicas de Imagem por Elasticidade
/
Infertilidade
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article