OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic value of Strain elastography values in fertile and infertile men, and the correlation between SE results with semen parameters and hormone profiles of the patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 82 patients and 164 testes were evaluated. Patients evaluated in our andrology outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of infertility and referred to radiology department for investigation of reproductive organs between January 2017 and December 2017 were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to semen analyses results as normal (Group 1) and abnormal (Group 2). Hormone profiles, semen analyses, B–mode, coloured Doppler ultrasonography and sonoelastography examinations were performed for each patient. Measurements of testicular volumes, strain values and strain ratio (SR) were recorded.

RESULTS:

Mean testicular volumes (Group 1, 20.38+5.6 mL, and Group 2, 16.34±2.86 mL) were significantly different between groups (p <0.001).Mean Strain values in group 1 and 2 were 5.32±2.02 and 5.61±2.24 respectively and the mean strain ratio in Group 1 & 2 were0.13±0.16 and 0.24±0.08 respectively, both of which showed a statistically significant difference with P < 0.001.  Strain values were shown to have an inverse relationship with total sperm count and total motile sperm counts.  However, the inverse relationship between strain values and total motile sperm count was alone shown to be statistically significant.   Our data also revealed that SR values were significantly higher in patients with abnormal semen parameters allowing it to be a valuable tool in evaluating infertile men.

CONCLUSION:

Strain elastography results were found to be significantly different in patients with abnormal sperm counts. This technique may provide promising results, however, further large scale studies may help to clarify the value of this imaging modality in the assessment of male infertility.