Androlog Mail
I am currently treating a patient who underwent orchiectomy for
embryonal carcinoma of the testis performed in 1987, followed by
retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and two rounds of chemotherapy.
He currently ejaculates, but is azoospermic. Physical examination is
unremarkable other than the surgically absent testis. His serum
testosterone is 454 ng/dl, LH is 9.8 and FSH is 13.6.
It seems likely that this patient suffers from impaired spermatogenesis,
probably secondary to the chemotherapy. He was noted to have sperm in a
specimen collected (but not frozen) after the lymph node dissection and
before the chemotherapy).
My question pertains to the likelihood of being able to retrieve sperm
from a testis biopsy specimen in this setting. I would be very
interested in the experience of the group in the performance of
testicular sperm extraction under similar circumstances.
Many thanks,
-Andy Meacham
Denver, Colorado
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Randall B. Meacham, MD
Associate Professor, Residency Program Director and Chief
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery
Director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery
The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
email: randall.meacham@uchsc.edu
Academic Office: 303-315-5939
Clinic: 720-848-1690
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