Title: Ultrasound Volume of the Testes in Infertile Men with Azoospermia
Abstract: The purpose of our study was to assess the usefulness of ultrasound (US)-determined testicular volume in the evaluation of the infertile men with azoospermia. Our institutional review board approved this retrospective study and the need for informed consent was waived. A computerized search, dated from October 2003 to June 2010, generated a list of 45 infertile men with azoospermia (mean age, 34 years; age range, 26-44 years) who underwent both scrotal US and testis biopsy. US-determined testicular volumes were compared between infertile men with obstructive azoospermia and those with non-obstructive azoospermia. Testicular volume for obstructive azoospermia (ranged from 6.4 ml to 26.9 ml, with a median volume of 14.0 ml) was significantly larger than those for non-obstructive azoospermia (ranged from 1.0 ml to 12.8 ml, with a median volume of 6.1 ml) (P < .001). Area under the ROC curve for distinguishing non-obstructive azoospermia from obstructive azoospermia using testicular volume was 0.91. A cutoff value of less than or equal to 11.4 ml could distinguish non-obstructive azoospermia from obstructive azoospermia, with a sensitivity of 94.1 % (95% CI; 71.3%-99.9%) and a specificity of 73.3 % (95% CI; 54.1%-87.7%). US-determined testicular volume can be helpful in the differentiation of obstructive azoospermia from non-obstructive azoospermia.