title: [Sonographic features and clinical significance of transrectal ultrasonography in obstructive azoospermia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ultrasonographic features of obstructive azoospermia and to evaluate transrectal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed transrectal ultrasonography for 248 patients with obstructive azoospermia, observed the sonographic features of the prostate gland, seminal vesicle and ejaculatory duct.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average volume of the prostate gland of the studied group was 13.2 ml. A total of 111 cases showed normal sonographic features, 39 cases bilateral seminal vesicle defect, 33 cases bilateral seminal vesicle aplasia, 23 cases unilateral seminal vesicle defect and contralateral seminal vesicle aplasia, 28 cases bilateral and 14 cases unilateral seminal vesicle dilatation. Of the 42 cases of seminal vesicle dilatation, 18 had ejaculatory duct dilatation and 17 had cysts in the midline of the prostate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obstructive azoospermia varies in kind. Transrectal ultrasonography can reveal the details of the prostate, seminal vesicle and ejaculatory duct and help to classify obstructive azoospermia and determine the location of the lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
authors.forename: Rong-pei
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chun-hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wan-mi
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Wei-jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004543:Ejaculatory Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012007:Rectum; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography