ULTRASONIC TEXTURE AND VOLUME OF TESTICLES IN INFERTILE MEN

Ultrasound scanning of the testes and surgical biopsy were performed i n 95 infertile men to evaluate the use of ultrasound in male infertili ty. Ultrasonic testicular volume was calculated using three measuremen ts and the formula of an ellipsoid, and the ultrasonic texture was eva luated and given a score from 1 to 5, indicating increasing degrees of irregularity. The median score was 3 (range 1-5), which was higher th an previously found in normal men (median score 2; range 1-5; P < 0.00 01). The ultrasonic texture score was lower in testes with a uniform p attern of 100% spermatogenic tubules compared with the rest, both for the right (P < 0.001) and for the left (P < 0.0005) testis. Texture sc ore was correlated with the number of obliterated tubules for both tes tes (P < 0.001). The mean ultrasonic testicular volume of the right te stis was 10.30 ml, and that of the left 10.26 ml. Both were smaller co mpared with the findings in normal men (P < 0.0001). Ultrasonic testic ular volume was negatively correlated with texture score (P < 0.001). A positive correlation between ultrasonic volume and sperm count was s een (P < 0.001). Sperm count was negatively correlated with texture sc ore if calculated together with data from 119 men from the general pop ulation (P < 0.001). The study shows that ultrasonic volume and textur e are valuable parameters in the evaluation of infertile men.