Role of transrectal ultrasonography in evaluating the cause of azoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of transrectal ultrasonography in the investigation of azoospermia, a significant cause of infertility.


METHODS
Over a 2-year period, 35 patients with azoospermia underwent an infertility workup, which included transrectal ultrasonography.


RESULTS
Sonograms of 10 of the 35 patients were normal; 8 patients had enlarged seminal vesicles containing cysts, 6 had ejaculatory duct dilation, 5 had seminal vesicle calcification, 3 had seminal vesicle atrophy-hypoplasia and 3 patients had midline prostatic cysts.


CONCLUSIONS
Transrectal sonography is a useful modality to evaluate seminal duct abnormalities, some of which may cause azoospermia.
Yassa
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NA
Department of Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif., USA. nyassa@goodsam.org
Keesara
S
S
D001284:Atrophy; D002114:Calcinosis; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004543:Ejaculatory Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D011469:Prostatic Diseases; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography