Patterns of Scrotal Sonographic Findings in Suspected Subfertile Males in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: There are varied scrotal findings in subfertile males of which ultrasonography is a readily available, non-ionizing and reproducible imaging modality of choice for proper assessment. Aim: To identify the patterns of scrotal ultrasonographic findings in suspected subfertile males in Enugu.  Study Design: A comparative cross sectional prospective study.  Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiation Medicine University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, between July 2019 and February 2020.  Methodology: 130 adult males comprising 65 suspected subfertile males and 65 normal adult males were recruited for this study. Ultrasound scanning was done on research participants using 5.0-7.5 MHz linear transducer on a mobile “ALOKA” ultrasound machine. The obtained data were coded, validated, and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS software, version 24, percentage, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t test. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.  Results: A total of 130 subjects were scanned. The mean age was 41.2years. The mean testicular volume was 10.01±4.09 cm3. There was a wide variety of findings in the assessed subfertile males ranging from normal to inhomogeneous testicular echotexture and varicocoele. Varicocoele was the commonest finding accounting for 50% of other findings, followed by hydrocoele (22%), then 10% had inhomogeneous echotexture while microlithiasis, undescended testis as well as epididymal cyst all had 6%.  Conclusion: Ultrasonographic evaluation of testis is invaluable in the assessment of patterns of findings in male subfertility. Varicocoele was the commonest sonologic finding among the suspected subfertile males. This is reassuring as varicocoele is readily treatable cause of subfertility compared to complex multifactorial causes of female subfertility.