WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPERMATOZOA PER MILLILITER AT ADULTHOOD AND THE TUBULAR FERTILITY INDEX AT SURGICAL AGE FOR PATIENTS WITH CRYPTORCHIDISM

Purpose: The aim of this study was to find out the relationship in the patient with cryptorchidism between the number of spermatogonia at su rgical age and spermiogram data at adulthood. Methods: Between 1971 an d 1996 the authors surgically treated 1,550 children for 2,249 undesce nded testis. in 21 unilateral and 41 bilateral cryptorchidism patients , both testis were biopsied at surgical procedure during childhood. We currently have spermiogram data for a patient at adulthood. Results: By using the best Tubular Fertility Index (TFI) figures of both testis , the Sperman correlation index between the two parameters is r = 0.22 , statistically nonsignificant. The TFI test sensitivity is 0.68 and t he specificity is 0.60. The likehood ratio for a positive test result is 0.84 and the likehood ratio for a negative test result is 0.37. Con clusion: Although the authors have only one spermiogram, and there are few cases, they suspect the TFI is not a good index to predict the po tential fertility in cryptorchidism patients. Copyright (C) 1998 by W. B. Saunders Company.