Azoospermia Associated with Testicular and Pulmonary Microlithiasis

Abstract

Microlithiasis is a rare entity. The pattern of microliths was characterized as diffuse or focal with symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of the echogenic foci. Testicular microlithiasis was reported to be associated with a number of clinical and pathological conditions such as intratubular germ cell neoplasia, cryptorchidism, torsion, epididymitis, infertility, and alveolar pulmonary microlithiasis. The diagnosis of this condition is confirmed either by the sonographic appearance of diffuse nonshadowing echogenic foci or the intratubular histological findings of the microliths. We describe a case of testicular and pulmonary microlithiasis associated with male infertility.

References

1. Backus ML, Mack LA, Middleton WD, King BF, Winter TC, True LD: Testicular microlithiasis: imaging appearance and pathologic correlation. Radiology 1994;192:781-785.

2. Renshaw A: Testicular calcifications: incidence, histology and proposed pathological criteria for testicular microlithiasis. J Urol 1998;160:1625-1628.

3. Gonzalez Sanchez FJ, Encinas Gaspar MB, Napal Lecumberri S: Testicular microlithiasis associated with infertility. Arch Esp Urol 1997;50:71-74.

4. Coetze T: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with involvement of the sympathetic nervous system and gonad. Thorax 1970;25:637-640.

5. Menchinelli P, De Giovanni L, Belli P, Manasia P, Weir JM, Ronzoni G: Unilateral testicular microlithiasis. Arch Ital Urol Androl 1999;71:199-200.

6. Ucan ES, Keyf AI, Aydilek R, et al: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: review of Turkish reports. Thorax 1993;48:171-173.

7. Ritchie DA, O'Connor A, McGivern D: An unusual presentation of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis and diaphyseal aclasia. Br J Radiology 1992;65:178-181.

8. Moran JM, Moreno F, Climent V, Nistal M: Idiopathic testicular microlithiasis: ultrastructural study. Br J Urol 1993;72:252-253.