Diagnosis and treatment of azoospermia resulting from testicular sarcoidosis

Unnecessary orchiectomy due to atypical sarcoidosis manifesting as a unilateral scrotal mass: a case report and literature review

Sarcoidosis is a disease characterised primarily by lung tissue involvement. Extrapulmonary involvement, particularly in the genitourinary tract, is extremely rare, particularly when it comes to primary disease detection in this location. The gold standard in establishing a definitive diagnosis of sarcoidosis is a combination of the clinical picture, the results of imaging methods, and histopathological examination from the biopsy taken (thus ruling out other causes of granulomatous inflammation). However, it is common for the biopsy to be infeasible or for the patient to refuse such an examination, resulting in the neglect of this critical verification. We introduce the case of a young 29-year-old man of Czech nationality who had been complaining for some time about non-specific pain above the pubic bone and in the lower abdomen, which was combined with a painless enlargement of the right half of the scrotum. Due to suspected malignancy, it was, after considering clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings, decided to perform a radical orchiectomy as a treatment option. The histological examination revealed that it was not cancer, but rather a rare genitourinary form of extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. In this case, radical resection had been, therefore, unnecessary. We also present a review of the literature on published extrapulmonary, genitourinary, and testicular sarcoidosis cases. All the above demonstrates the importance of considering a possible atypical sarcoidosis manifestation and histological confirmation before pursuing radical solutions.

Testicular Sarcoidosis: An Underdiagnosed Manifestation That Poses Unique Challenges

Testicular involvement is a rarely encountered complication of sarcoidosis. There are unique challenges involved when sarcoidosis affects the genitourinary system. These include differentiating the findings from testicular cancer, which often results in invasive procedures such as orchiectomies. It can also be a cause of secondary infertility in men. Additionally, it may also be underdiagnosed. Here, we describe a case where a patient showed a constellation of findings suggestive of sarcoidosis, along with testicular involvement at initial presentation. In this case, the diagnosis was made clinically with supporting laboratory, pathology, and ultrasound findings. The testicular findings were not biopsied, as the patient had easily accessible skin findings to confirm sarcoidosis. His testicular findings are continued to be monitored via ultrasound.

Case Report: Testicular Sarcoidosis: The Diagnostic Role of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Review of the Literature

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disease histologically characterized by non-caseating epithelioid granulomas and multinucleated giant cells; the etiology is still uncertain, and likely related to a complex interplay between environmental and genetic factors. The genitourinary system is affected in fewer than 0.2% of all clinically diagnosed cases of sarcoidosis and in 5% of those identified in autopsy studies. In this report, we describe a case of a 42–year-old male with one hypoechoic lesion per testis on B-mode evaluation; contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) on both lesions was carried out. During the early phase, the masses showed a hypovascular appearance as compared to the surrounding testicular tissue, maintaining the hypo-enhancement in the late phase. Tissue biopsy for pathological evaluation confirmed testicular sarcoid involvement, showing non-caseating granulomas. Allowing visualization of testicular microvascularisation, CEUS may play an important role in excluding malignancy, avoiding unnecessary aggressive treatment for benign conditions, such as sarcoidosis. A review of the literature of reported cases since 2004 of sarcoidosis involving the testis is also included.

Spontaneous Infertility Secondary to Testicular Sarcoidosis: A Case Report

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease that can affect any region of the body. Rarely, sarcoid involvement may even involve the male genitourinary tract, including the testicles. Testicular sarcoidosis causes spontaneous and severe effects on male fertility due to obstructive azoospermia. The case presented offers an insight into successful fertility treatment in a patient with obstructive testicular sarcoidosis. The patient and his partner presented to the clinic two years post successful natural conception of their first child with subsequent infertility. Within this period, the male partner was diagnosed with sarcoidosis and was on a treatment plan consisting of methotrexate and glucocorticoids. Complete azoospermia was confirmed via two separate semen analyses six weeks apart. The patient's testosterone (free and total), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were all within normal limits. With approval of pulmonology, methotrexate was discontinued for three months; however, subsequent semen analysis revealed no improvement. The patient was referred to urology, who confirmed the presence a palpable testicular nodule. Treatment of infertility was eventually achieved via testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) followed by in vitro fertilization (IVF) using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This treatment was successful in achieving one blastocyst and one morula, which were replaced via fresh transfer, resulting in a successful term singleton pregnancy. The possibility of obstructive azoospermia should be considered in males diagnosed with sarcoidosis who are seeking to preserve their reproductive potential.

Sexual function and reproduction can be impaired in men with rheumatic diseases: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Information about the possible effect of rheumatic diseases on male sexual function and reproduction (sexual health) is scarce and difficult to summarize. Factors known to impair sexual health, such as inflammation, medication use and hypogonadism can be present in a significant proportion of male patients with rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of our study was to systematically review the literature for the influence of paternal rheumatic disease on sexual health, such as sexual function, reproductive hormones, male fertility, pregnancy and offspring outcomes.

DATA SOURCES

English language articles identified through Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Google Scholar and the Clinical trial registries of Europe and the USA published until February 2019.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

Literature was synthesized in narrative form and in summary tables. Outcomes were categorized as: sexual function, reproductive hormones, fertility and pregnancy and offspring outcomes. Results are presented per category and per disease.

RESULTS

9735 articles were identified with our search strategy. After removal of duplicates, excluding articles by screening titles and abstracts and assessing eligibility by reading 289 fulltext articles, 87 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria. All included studies enrolled patients diagnosed with a rheumatic disease and had results at least on one of the outcome categories. Sexual function was the most common category, followed by reproductive hormones, fertility and pregnancy and offspring outcomes. Sexual function is impaired in a high proportion of patients with rheumatic diseases. This was statistically significant in most of the studies where a control group was available. Clinically relevant abnormalities in reproductive hormones were mainly identified in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a positive correlation with disease activity were reported. Semen quality in men with rheumatic diseases can be impaired in patients with SLE, SpA, sarcoidosis, BD and MWS. Sperm count and motility were the most common semen quality parameters affected. No negative effect of paternal RA and vasculitis on pregnancy outcomes were reported in 3 studies. No studies reporting the effect of paternal disease on offspring outcomes were identified.

LIMITATIONS

Most of the studies included in this review suffer from an inconsistent methodological quality, definitions of outcomes varied in several studies, a wide variety of screening questionnaires and/or diagnostic tools were used and results might only apply to the specific populations that were studied.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review suggests that sexual health is impaired in men with rheumatic diseases. The degree and extent of sexual health impairment vary per disease. More research is needed to fully understand the link between rheumatic diseases and impaired male sexual health. Meanwhile, rheumatologists should be aware of this association and discuss it with their patients.

IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS

Sexual health of men with rheumatic diseases can be impaired by the disease itself. Especially in men trying to conceive, information on sexual function, reproductive hormones and sperm quality are needed to identify these problems. Treatment resulting in lower disease activity can improve overall sexual health in man with rheumatic diseases and facilitate their journey to fatherhood.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018099845.

Testicular sarcoidosis with bilateral scrotal swelling

INTRODUCTION

Sarcoidosis is a disease in which noncaseating granulomas form in several organs, particularly in the lungs and skin. Male genitourinary involvement in sarcoidosis is uncommon.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 32-year-old male with painless bilateral scrotal swelling who was diagnosed with lung sarcoidosis presented to our hospital. Serum tumor marker levels were normal. Scattered hypoechoic mass lesions in both testes were noted on ultrasound examination. Biopsy of both testes revealed pathologically noncaseating epithelioid cell granuloma, and perihilar lymphadenopathy and a granulomatous lung nodule were found on chest computed tomography. Semen examination was performed after the biopsy, demonstrating oligospermia. A corticosteroid regimen was administered. After treatment, no abnormal accumulation in both testes was observed on gallium-67 scintigraphy, and semen examination demonstrated the mild improvement of the sperm count.

CONCLUSION

Treatments for testicular sarcoidosis vary, and malignancy and fertility must be considered.

Intrascrotal and osseous sarcoidosis mimicking intrascrotal organ cancer and bony metastasis

We report a case of sarcoidosis with concomitant epididymis, testes, and phalanxes involvement mimicking intrascrotal organ cancer and metastatic bony disease. A 23-year-old man developed blurred vision and hyperemia of the left eye, and was diagnosed as having left iritis. A chest computed tomography scan detected bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and lung nodular shadows. A transbronchial lung biopsy revealed a non-caseating granuloma and he was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. One year after the onset of his eye symptoms, he noticed enlargement of his right scrotum. Magnetic resonance imaging detected lesions of the right epididymis, bilateral testes, and bilateral phalanxes. A technetium-99m scintigram revealed a high accumulation in the bilateral bones of extremities. These radiological findings mimicked intrascrotal organ cancer and metastatic bony disease. Pathologic evaluation following the right epididymectomy revealed non-caseating granulomas compatible with sarcoidosis. Three and half years after the appearance of intrascrotal and bony lesions, they improved spontaneously. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2017; 34: 373-376).

Male fertility and skin diseases

Male fertility can be affected by a variety of organs diseases, including the skin. Several genodermatoses affect the skin and several other organs including the male reproductive system, commonly in the form of cryptorchidism and hypogonadism. The most relevant syndromes are associated with dyschromias, such as deSanctis-Cacchione, poikiloderma congenital, LEOPARD, and H syndrome; others with ichthyosis, such as Rud, and trichothiodystrophy; or a group of unrelated genodermatoses, such as ablepharon macrostomia, Coffin-Siris, Gorlin-Goltz, and Werner. Acquired skin diseases may also affect male fertility usually in the form of orchitis or epididymal obstruction or androgen antagonists. These include infections (leprosy and HIV), autoimmune (erythema nodosum leprosum), granulomatous (sarcoidosis, Langerhans cell histiocytosis), nutritional deficiency (zinc), and malignancy. Several therapeutics of skin diseases are notorious for their effects on male fertility, most notably are the cytotoxic drugs (methotrexate), irradiation, and antiandrogens (spironolactone, finasteride). Although the prevalence of these skin diseases is low, the associated male infertility represents a challenge due to the difficulty of its management. Clinical management of the skin diseases should include consideration of their effects not only on the diseases but also on the male reproductive system.

The use of genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in identifying biomarkers of male infertility

Although male factors account for approximately 50% of all infertility, the mechanisms underlying their origin are unknown. Currently, clinicians rely primarily on semen analyses to predict male reproductive potential and chart treatment success. Even when invasive procedures are performed, the causes of male factor infertility frequently remain elusive. Recently, the advent of new technologies has spurred the search for novel male infertility biomarkers, and the detection of genes, proteins, or metabolites unique to the infertile male holds much promise. The concept that a cost-effective, noninvasive, and accurate set of biomarkers can be identified to diagnose male factor infertility is tantalizing. This review focuses on the various methodologies used in the discovery of novel biomarkers along with their findings. Specific attention is paid to recent advances in the fields of genetics, proteomics, and metabolomics.