A preliminary report: postoperative fertility assessment in nerve-sparing RPLND patients.
Nerve-sparing RPLND is a procedure suited to patients with clinical stage I nonseminoma. Additionally, nerve-sparing techniques are applicable to patients with higher stage disease. Although ejaculation is reliably preserved with nerve-sparing techniques, the question of these patients' fertility has remained. Fertility was assessed in these patients by two techniques: laboratory analysis of semen and a post-RPLND questionnaire. Semen analyses and DNA histograms suggested fertility in > 70%; in addition, 43 of 53 (81%) patients who have tried to father children post RPLND have been successful. Nerve-sparing RPLND appears to be able to preserve fertility potential in these patients.
Foster
R S
RS
Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis.
Bennett
R
R
Bihrle
R
R
Donohue
J P
JP
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005298:Fertility; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm