Micro-dissection testicular sperm extraction for patients with non-obstructive azoospermia: A report of 196 cases / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the effect of micro-dissection testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) for patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and the indications of the strategy.@*METHODS@#This retrospective study included 196 cases of NOA undergoing microTESE in our center from September 2014 to March 2017. We recorded the sperm retrieval rate (SRR) and analyzed its correlation with the patients' age, testis volume, level of blood follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and etiological factors.@*RESULTS@#Testicular sperm were successfully retrieved from 87 (44.4%) of the patients. No significant correlation was found between the SRR and the patients' age, testis volume, or blood FSH level (P >0.05). As regards etiological factors, the SRR was 100% (29/29) in the patients with orchitis, 66.7% (16/24) in those surgically treated for cryptorchidism, 55.6% (10/18) in those with other secondary testis lesions, 60.0% (3/5) in those with AZFc deletion, 40.9% (9/22) in those with severe idiopathic testicular atrophy, 21.4% (12/56) in those with idiopathic NOA, 20.5% (8/39) in those with Klinefelter's syndrome, and 0% (0/3) in those with other abnormal karyotypes.@*CONCLUSIONS@#MicroTESE is an effective strategy for sperm retrieval in NOA patients, and the SRR is correlated with etiological factors but not with the FSH level or testis volume of the patients.