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Feasibility of high-frequency ultrasound for seminiferous tubule assessment and correlation of B-mode imaging with pathological findings in the testis in azoospermia

  • Original Article–Urology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To determine the feasibility of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) for assessing seminiferous tubules and to understand high-resolution B-mode images of the testes in cases of azoospermia.

Methods

We verified how the histopathological images of testicular biopsy specimens can be observed using HFUS images and measurement analysis of seminiferous tubules was performed to 28 testes of 14 cases with azoospermia who underwent preoperative ultrasound and microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE). The population consisted of obstructive azoospermia (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), including Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS), and the other pathologies. Statistical verification of differences in seminiferous tubule diameters among preoperative ultrasound examination, ultrasound examination of pathological specimens, and histopathological specimens. We also examined the imagingpathology correlation via a case series presentation, aiming to identify imaging markers of testicular pathology and determine the possibility of predicting each condition.

Results

A comparison between HFUS images and histopathology from the same biopsy specimens suggested that ultrasonography could be seen as stereoscopic images due to its significantly greater slice thickness. The diameters of tubules were generally larger in pathological tissues as compared to ultrasonographic findings in OA and SCOS, but not in the other conditions. Comparisons provided insights into the predictability of SCOS and revealed imaging findings such as gaps between tubules and decreased diameter reflective of testicular damage.

Conclusion

Seminiferous tubules can be observed however the diameter of seminiferous tubules varies in imaging and histopathology depending on the pathology. Imaging findings that reflect testicular damage and the predictability of SCOS were revealed in this study, but further verification is required.

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Data availability

The information in this article can be inquired about to the extent that it does not concern the privacy of the patient, but it will not be accepted for disclosure of clinical or pathological images that are not published. For inquiries, please contact the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, 537-3 Iguchi, Nasushiobara, Tochigi, 329-2763, Japan

    Tomoyuki Ohta

  2. Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Kosuke Kojo

  3. Center for IVF and Infertility, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan

    Kosuke Kojo, Masahiro Kurobe, Daisuke Numahata, Takayama Tatsuya & Teruaki Iwamoto

  4. Department of Urology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan

    Masahiro Kurobe, Daisuke Numahata & Takayama Tatsuya

  5. Division of Pathology, Kitasato University Medical Center, Saitama, Japan

    Shinya Okada

  6. Department of Urology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan

    Teruaki Iwamoto

Authors
  1. Tomoyuki Ohta
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  2. Kosuke Kojo
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  3. Masahiro Kurobe
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  4. Daisuke Numahata
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  5. Takayama Tatsuya
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  6. Shinya Okada
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  7. Teruaki Iwamoto
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tomoyuki Ohta.

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Conflict of interest

The authors received no financial support for the research authorship and/or publication of this article, and report that there are no other conflicts of interest.

Ethics statement

Informed consent was obtained from all patients undergoing micro-TESE during the study period, including cases excluded from measurement analysis. The ethics committee and institutional review board of the university hospital approved this study.

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Ohta, T., Kojo, K., Kurobe, M. et al. Feasibility of high-frequency ultrasound for seminiferous tubule assessment and correlation of B-mode imaging with pathological findings in the testis in azoospermia. J Med Ultrasonics (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-024-01462-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-024-01462-8

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