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Endocrine Abstracts (2022) 81 EP913 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.81.EP913

1‘San Valentino’ Hospital, Endocrinology Unit, Montebelluna, Italy; 2University of Padova, Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Padova, Italy; 3Azienda Usl Maggiore-Bellaria, Endocrinology Unit, Medical Department, Bologna, Italy


Scrotal color-doppler ultrasonography (sCDUS) and transrectal ultrasonography (trCDUS) provide crucial information about the clinical status of testes and male accessory glands. However, the US evaluation of the infertile male is still often considered as a second level diagnostic tool. To analyze the role of ultrasound in male infertility, in order to predict hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis function, 1120 records from infertile men were retrospectively evaluated (from January 2016 up to June 2020). Data on physical examination, semen analysis, sperm culture, sCDUS and trCDUS, as well as sex hormones were analyzed. Among them, 238 reports from oligozoospermic/azoospermic infertile patients (P) (mean±SD years) fullfilling the inclusion criteria were considered for data analysis. Patients were subdivided into two groups according to FSH values (Pa with FSH<8 U/l and Pb with FSH>8 U/l). Sixtythree fertile volunteers (mean±SD years) were enrolled as controls (C). Pb group had significantly lower bitesticular volume compared to Pa and to C. A higher prevalence of ultrasound abnormalities was recorded in P compared to C. Pa had a higher prevalence of trCDUS abnormalities than Pb (69.9 vs 38.4% P<0.005), while Pb had a higher prevalence of abnormalities at sCDUS (60.0 vs 28.3%, both P<0.01). A higher number of US abnormalities was associated with a more severe reduction in total sperm count. Bitesticular volume was inversely proportional to the number of altered seminal parameters and a bitesticular volume <17 cc was associated with a higher risk of azoospermia (odds ratio 1.799). Moreover, this parameter was able to predict gonadotropin levels. Finally, intratesticular number of vascular spots was directly correlated with sperm count and inversely correlated with gonadotropin levels. Our data confirm the pivotal role of ultrasound in the diagnostic workflow of male infertility.

Volume 81

European Congress of Endocrinology 2022

Milan, Italy
21 May 2022 - 24 May 2022

European Society of Endocrinology 

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