title: Microdissection testicular sperm extraction: effect of prior biopsy on success of sperm retrieval.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determined the effect of prior biopsies with no sperm seen on the chance of sperm retrieval with microdissection testicular sperm extraction in men with nonobstructive azoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 311 men with NOA underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction. Of these patients 135 underwent no prior biopsies, 159 underwent 1 or 2 diagnostic testicular biopsies per testis and 17 underwent 3 or 4. The outcome measure studied was the success of sperm retrieval with microdissection testicular sperm extraction. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone and histopathological diagnosis were examined as predictive factors for sperm recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spermatozoa were retrieved in 150 men by microdissection testicular sperm extraction (48%). The success of sperm retrieval in patients who underwent 3 to 4 biopsies (23%) was lower than the retrieval rate in patients who underwent no prior biopsies (56%) and 1 to 2 biopsies per testis (51%) (p = 0.04). When histopathology was considered, patients with Sertoli-cell-only diagnosis on prior diagnostic biopsy had lower retrieval rates compared to the group with no biopsies (p = 0.02). Men with maturation arrest and hypospermatogenesis had similar microdissection testicular sperm extraction sperm retrieval rates regardless of the number of prior biopsies. Spermatozoa recovery was independent of serum follicle-stimulating hormone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no threshold of prior negative biopsies that precludes the success of sperm retrieval using microdissection testicular sperm extraction. A limited number of testicular biopsies provide limited or no prognostic value for sperm retrieval with microdissection testicular sperm extraction.
authors: Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors: Ranjith
authors: R
authors: Ramasamy
authors: Peter N
authors: PN
authors: Schlegel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042282:Microdissection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*