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Testicular Biopsy and Histology

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Abstract

Indications for testicular biopsy are summarized in Table 11.1. According to the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines, a therapeutic testicular biopsy (for testicular sperm extraction, TESE) is indicated (1) in the case of obstructive aszoospermia (OA), indicated by normal testicular volume, normal FSH (<7 IU/l), and low levels of epididymal (α-glucosidase, L-carnitine) or seminal vesicle (fructose) markers with no chance for surgical reconstruction (e.g., congenital bilateral aplasia of the vas deferens). Alternatively, microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) can be applied. However, sperm obtained by TESE show better fertilization rates. In the case of microsur-gical refertilization (vasovasostomy, vasotubulostomy), after vasectomy a diagnostic biopsy helps to exclude impairment of seminiferous epithelium. In both cases, cryopreservation allows the use of extracted sperm (TESE, MESA) in combination with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), if microsurgical refertilization techniques are not applicable or fail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Str. 98, 35392, Hessen, Gießen/Germany

    Martin Bergmann

  2. Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology of the University, Domagkstraße 11, Münster, 48149, Germany

    Sabine Kliesch

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Correspondence to Martin Bergmann .

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  1. Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology of the University, Domagkstr. 11, Mönster, 48149, Germany

    Eberhard Nieschlag  & Susan Nieschlag  & 

  2. Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology of the University, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, Halle/Saale, 06120, Germany

    Hermann M. Behre

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Bergmann, M., Kliesch, S. (2010). Testicular Biopsy and Histology. In: Nieschlag, E., Behre, H.M., Nieschlag, S. (eds) Andrology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78355-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78355-8_11

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