RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic value of strain elastography (SE) of testicular tissues in infertile population. We also evaluated the correlation between SE results with semen parameters and hormone profiles of the patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 61 patients and 122 testes were evaluated. Patients who were evaluated in an andrology outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of infertility and referred to radiology department for investigation of reproductive organs between June 2015 and January 2016 were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to semen analyses results as normal (Group 1) and abnormal (Group 2). Hormone profiles, semen analyses, B-mode, coloured Doppler ultrasonography and sonoelastography examinations were performed for each patient. Measurements of testicular volumes, resistive indices (RI) in intraparenchymal arteries, strain, strain ratio (SR) and presence of varicocele were recorded. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 33.7±6.3 years. Mean testicular volumes (Group 1, 19.41±4.8 mL, and Group 2, 17.64±3.62 mL) were significantly different between groups (p=0.023). Mean SRs were also different between Groups 1 and 2 (0.12±0.08 vs. 0.22±0.18, p<0.001). Testicular volumes were directly proportional with SRs in Group 1. Strain values had inverse relationship with sperm concentration and total motile sperm counts in Group 2 (p=0.01). SRs were found to be positively correlated with RI and sperm morphology in Group 2 (p<0.05). Although FSH values showed significant difference among groups, any correlation between FSH and elastographic parameters could not be displayed. CONCLUSION: Strain elastography results were found to be significantly different in patients with abnormal sperm counts. This technique may provide promising results, however, further large scale studies may help to clarify the value of this imaging modality in the assessment of male infertility.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Lumbar puncture (LP) is one of the essential diagnostic tools in pediatric emergency services. Recently, ultrasound-assisted LP was reported to be beneficial in the emergency service by facilitating the procedure and improving the successful procedure rates. In addition, this method may be effective in reducing patient and parent anxiety due to the LP procedure. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound-assisted LP on the outcomes of puncture procedures and traumatic LP. METHODS: The study included patients younger than 18 years, who were admitted to the pediatric emergency service and underwent LP because of suspected central nervous system infection. The patients requiring LP were randomly divided into 2 groups designated as odd and even. One group received LP using the conventional method, whereas the other group had LP after spinal space measurement by ultrasound. The patients who did and who did not undergo ultrasound-assisted LP were compared for demographics, number of puncture attempts, and traumatic LP. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Student t test. The χ test was used when nominal data were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Ultrasound-assisted LP was performed in 56 patients, and LP by using conventional method was performed in 55 patients. There was traumatic LP in 5 (8.9%) of the patients who underwent ultrasound-assisted LP and 9 (16.3%) of the patients who underwent LP using the conventional method (P > 0.05). The number of puncture attempts was 2 or more in 2 (3.5%) of the patients who underwent ultrasound-assisted LP and 5 (9%) of the patients who had LP using the conventional method (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-assisted LP reduced traumatic LP and the number of puncture attempts in pediatric patients; however, the results were not statistically significant.
