Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in nonneoplastic testicular and scrotal lesions and male infertility.

OBJECTIVE

To study the role of fine needle aspiration (FNA) in male infertility and in nonneoplastic lesions of the testis and scrotum.

STUDY DESIGN

In a retrospective study over a 5-year period, 164 cases of FNA of testicular and scrotal nonneoplastic lesions were retrieved. Aspiration was performed with a 23-gauge needle on a 20-mL syringe.

RESULTS

Of 164 cases, 27 (16%) remained inconclusive; they were mainly from epididymal lesions. The remaining 137 cases were categorized as inflammatory lesions, 52 (31.7%); noninflammatory lesions, 42 (25.6%); and infertility cases, 43 (26.2%). Among the inflammatory lesions, 33 cases had nonspecific inflammation, 13 had granulomatous epididymoorchitis, 3 cases were of spermatic granuloma, and 3 cases revealed microfilariae. Noninflammatory lesions included 25 cases of spermatocele, 8 of hematoma/torsion, 5 of hydrocele, 3 of benign epididymal cyst and 1 of calcinosis cutis. Among the patients investigated for infertility, 23 (53%) had normal spermatogenesis, 6 (14%) had Sertoli cells only, 5 (119%) had maturation arrest, 6 (14%) showed hypospermatogenesis, and 3 (7%) showed an atrophic pattern.

CONCLUSION

FNA of the testis and scrotum is a simple, quick, minimally invasive and painless outpatient procedure. The sample obtained is more representative than biopsy as several separate punctures can be made, and there is no local scarring.