Semen quality before and after orchiectomy in men with testicular cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the impact of removal of the tumour bearing testis on semen quality in men with testicular cancer and the effect of tumour histologic feature on semen quality.


METHODS
We took into account the semen analysis before and after orchiectomy in 30 patients.


RESULTS
The median sperm concentration before and after orchiectomy was respectively of 26.7 x 10(6)/ml (range: 0-120 x 10(6)/ml) and 16.6 x 10(6)/ml (range: 0-75 x 10(6)/ml) (p = 0.001). Median sperm concentration before and after surgery in patients affected by seminomatous cancer were respectively of 35.47 x 10(6)/ml and 23.99 x 10(6)/ml, while cases of non-seminomatous cancer were respectively of 17.9 x 10(6)/ml and 8.16 x 10(6)/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
Semen quality at the diagnosis was poorer in patients affected by non-seminomatous testicular cancer. Sperm concentration deteriorated after orchiectomy. Our findings suggest that the most appropriate time for cryopreservation of semen is before orchiectomy.
Liguori
Giovanni
G
Department of Urology, University of Trieste, Italy. gioliguori@libero.it
Trombetta
Carlo
C
Bucci
Stefano
S
Benvenuto
Sara
S
Amodeo
Antonio
A
Ocello
Giuseppe
G
Belgrano
Emanuele
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D013076:Sperm Count; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult