Predictive factors of successful sperm retrieval in azoospermia.

INTRODUCTION: Testicular sperm extraction with intracytoplasmic sperm injection is the standard treatment for azoospermia. The objective of this study is to identify predictive factors of successful sperm retrieval. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2003 and May 2011, we tried testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in 74 azoospermic patients in the Reproductive Medicine Unit of Son Espases Hospital (Palma de Mallorca). Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B levels, testicular histology, genetic study, presence or not of cryptozoospermia and testicular volume were examined. RESULTS: Spermatozoa were successfully recovered in 47.2% of the total patients, in 36% of non-obstructive azoospermic patients and in 100% of obstructive azoospermic patients. Low inhibin B and high FSH were correlated to sperm retrieval failure. The cutoff points were determined using ROC curves that were 67 pg/mL for inhibin B and 12.2 mUI/mL for FSH. Spermatozoa were not successfully retrieved in any patient with Y microdeletions in AZFa,b regions. Spermatozoa were successfully retrieved in 100% of the patients with CFTR mutations. The highest sperm retrieval rate was for hypospermatogenesis, followed by maturation arrest and Sertoli-cell-only. Spermatozoa were successfully retrieved in all cryptozoospermic patients. Although using a non-significant test, there seems to be a correlation between higher testicular volume and a higher probability of successful sperm retrieval. CONCLUSIONS: Except for Y microdeletions in AZFa,b regions, there is no predictive factor of testicular sperm retrieval to rule out a patient for TESE. Lower inhibin B is more related to sperm retrieval failure than higher FSH. Sperm retrieval is possible for all cases of CFTR mutations but in any case of microdeletion Y in AZFa,b. The lack of germ cells is correlated with a high probability of sperm retrieval failure. The presence of cryptozoospermia is correlated with a high probability of sperm retrieval success. We do not find a statistically significant relation between testicular volume and successful sperm retrieval.

Diagnóstico fotodinámico con hexaminolevulinato en el cáncer vesical no músculo invasivo: experiencia del grupo BLUE / Hexaminolevulinate photodynamic diagnosis in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: experience of the BLUE group

Objetivos: El diagnóstico fotodinámico (DFD) con hexaminolevulinato se ha empezado a utilizar recientemente para mejorar la detección del cáncer vesical no músculo invasivo. Nuestro objetivo principal fue comparar el rendimiento diagnóstico de DFD frente a endoscopia con luz blanca convencional (LB) en nuestro medio. Material y métodos: Se realizó cistoscopia fluorescente con hexaminolevulinato en el momento de la RTU a 305 pacientes de 7 hospitales españoles. Todas las lesiones detectadas con LB y DFD fueron enumeradas y registradas en una base de datos online. Se analizó histopatológicamente cada lesión por separado. En 148 pacientes se tomaron además biopsias múltiples aleatorias (BMA). Resultados: Se biopsiaron un total de 1.659 lesiones: 522 identificadas con DFD y LB, 237 sólo con DFD, 19 sólo con LB y 881 BMA. De 600 neoplasias diagnosticadas DFD detectó 563, LB 441 y BMA 29 (20 CIS). La tasa media de sobredetección de DFD sobre LB fue del 31,9% globalmente, pero en el caso del CIS fue del 209%. La sensibilidad de DFD fue 93,8% y la de LB 78,2%. La especificidad de DFD fue 81,5% y la de LB 90,5%. En el 23% de los pacientes se detectó al menos una lesión neoplásica más con DFD que con LB. Conclusión: La RTU con hexaminolevulinato mejora el rendimiento diagnóstico y la calidad de la resección del cáncer vesical superficial, especialmente del CIS. La mayor sensibilidad de DFD es a costa de una menor especificidad. En nuestro estudio BMA rescató algunos falsos negativos de DFD para detectar CIS (AU)

Objectives: Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) with hexaminolevulinate has been recently used to improve detection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Our main purpose was to quantify the benefit of PDD vs. conventional white light cystoscopy (WL) in our area. Material and methods: Fluorescence-guided cystoscopy using hexaminolevulinate was performed at the time of the transurethral resection (TUR) in 305 patients from 7 Spanish hospitals. All lesions found with WL and PDD were numbered and recorded in an online database. Each lesion was sent separately for pathology analysis. Random biopsies were also obtained in 148 patients. Results: A total of 1659 lesions were biopsied: 522 were identified with PDD and WL, 237 only with PDD, 19 only with WL and 881 random biopsies. Of the 600 tumors, PDD detected 563, WL 441 and random biopsies 29 (20 CIS). The mean overdetection rate for PDD over WL was 31.9% for all types of lesions, but it was 209% for carcinoma in situ (CIS). Sensitivity was 93.8% for PDD and 78.2% for WL. Specificity was 81.5% for PDD and 90.5% for WL. In 23% of patients, PDD detected at least one additional neoplastic lesion compared to WL. Conclusions: Hexaminolevulinate fluorescence cystoscopy improves detection and resection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, especially of CIS. Sensitivity of PDD is higher than WL, but specificity is lower. In our study, random biopsies were able to detect some CIS not visible under PDD (AU)

[Hexaminolevulinate photodynamic diagnosis in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: experience of the BLUE group]. / Diagnóstico fotodinámico con hexaminolevulinato en el cáncer vesical no músculo invasivo: experiencia del grupo BLUE.

OBJECTIVES: Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) with hexaminolevulinate has been recently used to improve detection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Our main purpose was to quantify the benefit of PDD vs. conventional white light cystoscopy (WL) in our area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fluorescence-guided cystoscopy using hexaminolevulinate was performed at the time of the transurethral resection (TUR) in 305 patients from 7 Spanish hospitals. All lesions found with WL and PDD were numbered and recorded in an online database. Each lesion was sent separately for pathology analysis. Random biopsies were also obtained in 148 patients. RESULTS: A total of 1659 lesions were biopsied: 522 were identified with PDD and WL, 237 only with PDD, 19 only with WL and 881 random biopsies. Of the 600 tumors, PDD detected 563, WL 441 and random biopsies 29 (20 CIS). The mean overdetection rate for PDD over WL was 31.9% for all types of lesions, but it was 209% for carcinoma in situ (CIS). Sensitivity was 93.8% for PDD and 78.2% for WL. Specificity was 81.5% for PDD and 90.5% for WL. In 23% of patients, PDD detected at least one additional neoplastic lesion compared to WL. CONCLUSIONS: Hexaminolevulinate fluorescence cystoscopy improves detection and resection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, especially of CIS. Sensitivity of PDD is higher than WL, but specificity is lower. In our study, random biopsies were able to detect some CIS not visible under PDD.