Yield and efficacy of Biopty gun testis needle biopsy

Objectives, To assess whether a preliminary skin incision enhances diagnost ic yield of percutaneous testis biopsy and to further evaluate the clinical efficacy of this procedure. Methods, A total of 45 men (67 testes) underwent testicular biopsy with two passes of a Biopty gun spring-loaded needle. Twenty-seven biopsies were pe rformed without a preliminary skin incision (group 1), and 40 were performe d after a small scrotal incision (group 2). In 56 testes, needle biopsy his topathologic diagnosis was compared with that of open biopsy or orchiectomy specimens from the same patient. Needle and surgical specimens were fixed in Bouin's solution and sent separately for independent, blinded, histologi c interpretation. Results. Complications of the procedure were negligible. In all 67 needle b iopsies, specimen quality was adequate for histopathologic interpretation. The mean number of seminiferous tubules obtained from needle biopsy was 28% higher among patients having a preliminary skin incision (25.9) compared w ith those without (18.7, P = 0.023), Correlation between needle and open hi stopathologic diagnosis was excellent (55 of 56, 98%), Conclusions. A preliminary skin incision made before needle biopsy increase s the diagnostic yield of percutaneous testis biopsy. Percutaneous testis b iopsy using the Biopty gun needle provides equal diagnostic information whe n compared with open testis biopsy or orchiectomy specimens. The concomitan t reduction in morbidity and cost make this an attractive diagnostic proced ure. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.