[Role of systematic scrotal ultrasonography in the management of male infertility: prospective study of 609 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the benefit and diagnostic contribution of systematic scrotal ultrasound in the management of infertile men.


METHODS
Between 1st January and 31st December 1997, the authors conducted a consecutive and prospective study of 609 infertile patients corresponding to 418 cases of oligoasthenoteratospermia and 191 cases of azoospermia. All patients were investigated by scrotal ultrasound.


RESULTS
133 patients (21.8%) did not present any clinical or ultrasound abnormality. 60 patients (9.9%) presented isolated clinical abnormalities and 125 patients (20.5%) presented a discordance between clinical findings and ultrasound results. 9 patients (1.5%) presented an ultrasound nodule, 6 of which were discovered incidentally. 22 patients (3.6%) in whom the clinical features were more difficult to interpret, presented unambiguous findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Scrotal ultrasound makes a considerable contribution to more appropriate management of infertile men and diagnoses 1.5% of testicular tumours.
Goullet
E
E
Service d'Urologie, Hôpital Huriez, CHRU de Lille, France.
Rigot
J M
JM
Blois
N
N
Lemaitre
L
L
Mazeman
E
E
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012611:Scrotum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography