OBJECTIVE: To study the outcomes of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) among men with pure Sertoli cell-only histology on diagnostic testicular biopsy.
DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.
SETTING: Tertiary referral center.
PATIENT(S): Six hundred forty patients with pure Sertoli cell-only histology on testicular biopsy who underwent microTESE by a single surgeon.
INTERVENTION(S): MicroTESE.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm retrieval rates.
RESULT(S): Overall, 44.5% of patients with Sertoli cell only had sperm retrieved with microTESE. No difference was noted in sperm retrieval rates based on testis volume (≥15 mL vs. < 15 mL, 35.3% vs. 46.1%, respectively). Patients with ≥15 mL testicular volume and FSH 10-15 mU/mL had the worst prognosis, with a sperm retrieval rate of 6.7%.
CONCLUSION(S): Patients with previous testicular biopsy demonstrating Sertoli cell-only histology can be counseled that they have a reasonable likelihood of sperm retrieval with the contemporary delivery of microTESE. Given this finding, the utility of testicular biopsy before microTESE is further questioned.
Written by:
Berookhim BM, Palermo GD, Zaninovic N, Rosenwaks Z, Schlegel PN. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Urology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; The Population Council, Center for Biomedical Research, New York, New York.
Reference: Fertil Steril. 2014 Nov;102(5):1282-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.08.007
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25441063