Testicular Microlithiasis in Male Infertility

Abstract

Testicular microlithiasis was found in a 30-year-old infertile man. The literature is reviewed and the possible influence of testicular microlithiasis on male infertility is discussed.

Testicular microlithiasis: Association with male infertility

“…However, in addition to our study, several other reports have described patients with both TM and infertility, 10,13,14 suggesting that the relationship between TM and infertility may be more than coincidental. Moreover, histologic studies may provide an explanation for this apparent association.…”

“…Testicular biopsies performed on infertile patients with TM and abnormal semen (similar to the patients in our study group) have documented tubular atrophy, low mean tubular diameter, and intratubu- lar debris or microliths in approximately 30-40% of seminiferous tubules. 13,14 Spermatogenesis was arrested at the level of the secondary spermatocyte stage, and only a few spermatids and spermatogonia were identified. Thus, seminiferous tubule degeneration and obstructing intratubular debris resulting in oligospermia and reduced sperm motility could explain the apparent association of TM and infertility.…”

Prevalence of Testicular Microlithiasis in Males with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Its Association with Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumors

“…The association between TM and infertility has been reported in some studies. Tubular atrophy, low mean tubular diameter and intratubular debris in seminiferous tubules have been demonstrated in testicular biopsies performed on infertile patients with TM and abnormal semen [29,30]. It has also been suggested that seminiferous tubule degeneration and obstructing intratubular debris could explain the possible association of TM and infertility.…”

Significance of Testicular Microlithiasis

“…Sasagawa et al [10] found 1 case among 125 testicular biopsies performed because of infertility. Kessaris and Mellinger [7] detected 2 patients (1.3%) out of 150 infertile men.…”

“…Pathological conditions include malignancies, cryptorchism [4] , varicocele [5][6][7] , testicular torsion [8] , infertility [6,7,9,10] , epididymo-orchitis [5] , Klinefelter syndrome [11] , male pseudohermaphroditism [8] , neurofi bromatosis, and HIV infection [12] .…”