TESTICULAR MICROLITHIASIS - ASSOCIATION WITH MALE-INFERTILITY

Purpose. We studied the frequency of testicular microlithiasis (TM) in a select group of otherwise healthy infertile men with abnormal semen . Methods. We reviewed scrotal sonography records of 180 consecutive p atients with abnormal semen who were referred for evaluation of male i nfertility. The pampiniform plexus was evaluated for possible varicoce le, and the testes were examined for the presence or absence of intrat esticular calcifications and/or masses. Five patients with more than 5 echogenic foci per transducer field in either testis were identified. The medical records and sonograms of this subgroup of patients were a nalyzed. Results. Of the 180 patients, 5 (2.8%) had TM. Three patients with TM had concomitant small varicoceles; 2 others had a history of testicular maldescent. Two patients eventually became fertile. Conclus ions. Our results indicate a higher than expected frequency of TM in o therwise healthy infertile men. We speculate that the magnitude of hyp ospermatogenesis in patients with TM is variable and may relate to bot h the degree of testicular dysgenesis and the presence or absence of c oncomitant scrotal pathology (eg, scrotal varicocele and cryptorchidis m). (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.