Diagnosis of vasal obstruction with seminal vesiculography: an alternative to vasography in select patients.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the pelvic and inguinal portion of the vas deferens can be visualized during seminal vesiculography.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of the seminal vesiculograms performed in six patients to determine the frequency of visualization of the vas deferens. A prospective evaluation to determine the amount of contrast necessary to visualize the vas deferens was performed in three patients.

RESULTS

The vas deferens was visualized down to the level of the scrotum in four of the six initial studies examined retrospectively. The vas deferens was visualized adequately after the infusion of > or = 10 mL of contrast in all three studies performed prospectively.

CONCLUSION

Seminal vesiculography is a minimally invasive diagnostic alternative to vasography that can be used to document the patency of the pelvic and inguinal portions of the vas deferens in select patients.