[The value of histopathologic examination of testis tissue from testicular sperm aspiration].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate histopathologic examination of the testis tissue from testicular sperm aspiration (TESA).


METHODS
We analyzed the results of inverted microscopy and histopathologic examination of 96 samples of testis tissue from TESA, and compared the accuracy of the two methods in detecting sperm in the testis tissue.


RESULTS
Among the 11 cases in which sperm was found by inverted microscopy, 9 were confirmed by histopathologic examination, and among the 57 cases in which sperm was not detected by inverted microscopy, 11 (19.3%) were found with sperm by histopathologic examination. Histopathologically, the cases in which sperm was not found by inverted microscopy included Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (n = 34), maturation arrest (n = 12) and hypospermatogenesis (n = 11).


CONCLUSIONS
Histopathologic examination may reveal sperm in the TESA testis tissue proved to be sperm-absent by microscopy, and thus offer valuable information for a second testicular sperm retrieval.
Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215002, China. drim2004@126.com
Shen-Min
SM
Yang
Bing
B
Chen
Yi-Chao
YC
Shi
Duan-Gai
DG
Wen
Hong
H
Li
Wei
W
Wang
Hong-Bo
HB
Cheng
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013076:Sperm Count; D053625:Sperm Retrieval; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult