Urologic Survey

Sperm Fine-needle Aspiration (FNA) Mapping After Failed Microdissection Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE): Location and Patterns of Found Sperm

10.4274/jus.2019.06.011

  • Emre BAKIRCIOĞLU

J Urol Surg 2019;6(2):178-178

EDITORIAL COMMENT

In this study, the authors retrospectively analyzed the results of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) mapping performed in 548 patients between 2010 and 2016. A total of 82 men with a previous failed micro-Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) operation performed in different centers underwent salvage sperm retrieval with FNA mapping. In these patients, a total of 2825 (1424 on right and 1401 on left) sites were mapped and mature sperm was found in 24 (29.3%) of the 82 men. The authors reported that 15 of 24 men underwent sperm retrieval procedure with the guidance of the FNA maps and sufficient sperm was retrieved in all. In this study, it was shown that the FNA mapping technique might be a reliable option for men diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia and failed previous micro-TESE operation. FNA mapping is a costly invasive diagnostic procedure; besides, it needs skilled pathologist for evaluation to find sperm, however, it may be an alternative to micro-TESE operation in selected patients.