title: [Correlation of testicular volume and reproductive hormone level with the results of testicular sperm aspiration in non-obstructive azoospermia patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation of the testis volume and reproductive hormone level with the results of testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients, and to explore the cut-off value of the testis volume and reproductive hormone level in predicting the results of TESA so as to provide reliable information for the diagnosis and treatment of NOA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enlisted 121 NOA patients in this study, divided them into a sperm group and a non-sperm group based on the results of TESA, and measured their testis volumes and reproductive hormone levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The left testis volume, the right testis volume, and the levels of prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and total testosterone (T) in the non-sperm and sperm groups were (7.07 +/- 1.06) ml vs (11.75 +/- 1.38) ml, (7.37 +/- 1.37) ml vs (11.70 +/- 1.98) ml, (12.43 +/- 11.69) ng/ml vs (9.60 +/- 4.55) ng/ml, (15.77 +/- 10.84) mIU/ml vs (8.01 +/- 7.43) mIU/ml, (6.12 +/- 2.92) mIU/ml vs (8.11 +/- 20.11) mIU/ml, (119.36 +/- 43.52) pmol/L vs (141.12 +/- 48.33) pmol/L, and (11.43 +/- 4.05) nmol/L vs (12.46 +/- 4.60) nmol/L, respectively. The mean levels of serum FSH and PRL were significantly higher in the non-sperm than in the sperm group. Although the mean testis volume of the former was less than that of the latter, there were no significant differences between the two groups, and nor were any significant differences in age and the levels of E2 and T. The cut-off value of the testis volume was 9 ml, with sensitivity of 93.8%/89.6% (left/right) and specificity of 100%/94.3% (left/right). The area under curve (AUC) of the left testis volume was 0.984 and that of the right was 0.961, indicating a high diagnostic accuracy. The cut-off value of the serum FSH level was 8.18 mIU/ml, with a sensitivity of 71.2% and a specificity of 75.0%. The AUC of the FSH level was 0.743, suggestive of a moderate diagnostic accuracy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The testis volume and FSH level are important for predicting the TESA results of NOA patients, and the former has even a higher diagnostic accuracy than the latter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Third Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. tangwenhao9696@sohu.com
authors.forename: Wen-hao
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lu-lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Lian-ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jia-ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: De-feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D053625:Sperm Retrieval; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone