Abstract
Background and Objectives: Complete maturation arrest (CMA) is one of the most common pathologic findings in azoospermic patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the results of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) in these patients.
Materials and Methods: From 2000 to 2002, 56 consecutive patients with azoospermia arising from CMA were studied. These patients classified according to the maturation arrest level into two groups: first group had arrested in primary spermatocyte (early), second group had arrested in secondary spermatocyte and spermatid (late). Results of PESA compared with testicular volume, size of epididymis and serum FSH.
Results: Mean age of patients was 26.32±5.54. Thirty-two patients had late maturation arrest and 24 patients had early maturation arrest. In late group, spermatozoa could be harvested from epididymis by PESA technique (75%). We couldn't find any sperm in early group. Main FSH serum level was different between two groups significantly (p=0.001). There was not significant correlation between epididymal distention and testicular volume and sperm recovery.
Conclusion: Sampling of testicular biopsy should be reviewed for spermatid. We recommend that PESA attempt should be afforded to all CMA that had positive spermatid in histopathology.