Cytological findings of testicular fine needle aspiration in a | ||
| Mustansiriya Medical Journal | ||
| Article 1, Volume 11, Issue 2, December 2012, Pages 24-28 | ||
| Author | ||
| Basim Sh. Ahmed | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Azoospermia account for about 10–15% of male infertility cases. It denotes the final result of different testicular alterations, ranging from non-obstructive to obstructive azoospermia which could be corrected surgically. The former is associated with impairment of spermatogenic process, including hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest and complete absence of germ cells-Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS). To ascertain such azoospermia aetiology, Testicular biopsy is considered as the standard method. However, the popularity of Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology has gained as simple and minimally invasive way that can help in assessing testicular function accurately. Aims: To determine causes of azoospermia, by assessing the cytological findings in testicular FNA. Patients and Methods: A prospective study for 95 azoospermic patients was conducted from Jan 2010-Dec 2011 at private laboratory using FNA procedure. Here, detailed history and physical examination were done along with semen analysis to confirm true azoospermia. Both testes were aspirated to obviate sampling errors when appropriate. Routine Haematoxylin and Eosin staining was also performed on the smears. Results: Adequate samples were obtained from 84 (88.4%) cases, while 11 patients (11.6%) had scanty smears where cytological diagnosis could not be obtained. These adequate smears were categorized as normal spermatogenesis in 38 (45.2%) patients, maturation arrest at spermatocyte/spermatid level, and Sertoli cell only syndrome in 27 (32.2%) and 19 (22.6%) patients, respectively. Conclusions: FNAC could permit characterization of specific cytological pictures related to testicular damage nature. It is able to identify different azoospermic subjects and represents a reliable and prognostic parameter of seminiferous epithelium status. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| azoospermia; Fine needle aspiration; Spermatocytic arrest; Germ | ||
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