Things i think i should know 6-8 Flashcards
Define infertile
• A couple who has regular unprotected intercourse for a period of 12 months without a pregnancy is considered to be infertile.
What is primary and secondary subfertility?
- Primary subfertility means that a pregnancy has never been achieved before.
- Secondary subfertility implies a previous pregnancy, though it may have ended in miscarriage or ectopic loss
What are the main risks of OHSS?
- ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
- ectopic pregnancy
- multiple pregnancies.
How is ultrasound used in ART?
- track the ovarian response to the ovarian stimulation protocol
- guide the oocyte retrieval
- occasionally to observe the embryo transfer catheter entering the cavity and releasing the transfer medium with the embryo.
- When pregnancy occurs an ultrasound is performed four to six weeks after oocyte retrieval to confirm the pregnancy location and to determine the number of viable embryos.
What does The proximal part of the mesonephric duct become?
highly convoluted to form the epididymis.
What does The remainder of the mesonephric duct form?
the ductus deferens and ejaculatory duct
A lateral outgrowth from the caudal end of each mesonephric duct gives rise to?
the seminal vesicle, a gland that produces a secretion that nourishes the sperm
What glands are derived from the uerthra?
- Other glands important in the male genital system are derived from the urethra
- prostate arises from the prostatic part of the urethra
- bulbourethral glands develop from paired outgrowths from the spongy part of the urethra.
- secretions of these glands contribute to the semen.
What is the function of the gubernaculum?
- The gubernaculum forms a path through the anterior abdominal wall for the processus vaginalis to follow during formation of the inguinal canal.
- The gubernaculum anchors the testis to the scrotum and guides its descent into the scrotum.
When are both testes usually present in the scrotum?
32 weeks
What can occur if there is a persistant processus vaginalis?
hydrocele
congenital hernia
What is associated with congenital hernias?
• undescended testes.
• ectopic testes
in females with androgen insensitivity syndrome
What is cryptorchidism?
undescended testes
What happens if testes remain outside the scrotum?
- If both testes remain within or just outside the abdominal cavity, they fail to mature and sterility is common.
- If uncorrected, these men have a significantly higher risk of developing germ cell tumors
What is the most common site of undescended testes?
Inguinal canal
What is an ectopic testis?
• After traversing the inguinal canal, the testes may deviate from its usual path of descent and lodge in various abnormal locations
o Interstitial (external to aponeurosis of external oblique muscle)
o In the proximal part of the medial thigh
o Dorsal to the penis
o On the opposite side (crossed ectopia)
Where is the fluid of a hydrocele contained?
Between the layers of the tunica vaginalis
What may cause a hydrocele?
inflammation of the tunica vaginalis and injury/inflammation of the epididymis.
What does the spermatic cord consist of?
• contains all the elements entering or leaving the scrotum
o vas deferens
o the testicular, deferential and cremasteric arteries
o the pampiniform plexus of veins
o the lymphatic vessels
o nerves
o the ligament of Cloquet (vestige of the processus vaginalis)
How can spectral Doppler be used in assessing the testis?
• suspected epididymitis
o spectral Doppler of the cremasteric or deferential arteries showing increased blood flow as compared to the contralateral side
o often the only ultrasound evidence of mild or partially treated epididymitis.
• ultrasound sign of impending infarction
o reduced or reverse flow in diastole in the spectral trace of an intratesticular artery compared to the contralateral side.
• Any varicose veins of the pampiniform plexus can also be assessed.
Whats another name for the epididymal head?
globus major
What are the common congenital abnormalities of the male reproductive system?
- cryptorchidism or ‘undescended testes’
- ectopic testes
- congenital inguinal hernia
- hydrocele
What is agenesis of the vas deferens associated with?
• Agenesis of the vas deferens is commonly associated with renal agenesis
What does a Persistence of the middle portion of the processus vaginalis create?
encysted hydrocele
What does Persistence of the upper portion of the processus vaginalis result in?
inguinal hernia
What is the typical appearance of an epidermoid cyst?
Whorled
Where are intratesticular cysts often found?
• Often located next to mediastinum testis
What causes tubular ectasia of the rete testes?
- Obstruction of efferent tubules or epididymis
- Inflammation, trauma or surgery (vasectomy) causation
- May be congenital
How do epidermoid cysts appear?
- well-defined, round to ovoid, avascular masses and may be multiple or bilateral.
- characteristic whorled or laminated appearance
- may not be pathognomonic because it is rarely seen with teratoma
- Another typical appearance of an epidermoid cyst is a well-defined hypoechoic mass with an echogenic capsule that may be calcified
- may be central calcification, giving a “bull’s eye” or target appearance
- may also have the nonspecific appearance of a hypoechoic mass with or without calcifications and may resemble germ cell tumors
- Avascularity is clue to the diagnosis
- appearance is characteristic, it is not pathognomonic, and histologic confirmation should be obtained
Comment on abscesses in the testes
- usually a complication of epdidymo-orchitis
- may also result from undiagnosed torsion, infarct, trauma and gangrenous or infected or tumour pyogenic orchitis
- sonography demonstrates an irregularly marginated, hypoechoic or mixed echogenic intratesticular mass
- no diagnostic sonographic features but can often be distinguished from tumors on the basis of clinical symptoms and short-term interval change.
What does a testes infarction look like?
depends on the age of infarction
• typical segmental infarct is seen as a focal, wedge-shaped or round hypoechoic mass, with approximately 80% occurring in the upper pole
• focal hypoechoic mass may not be distinguishable from a neoplasm on the basis of its gray-scale sonographic appearance
• should have reduced or absent blood flow
• early sonographic appearance may be difficult to distinguish from a testicular neoplasm, but infarcts decrease substantially in size, whereas tumors characteristically enlarge with time
When might you see an adrenal rest?
in setting of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) or cushing syndrome
What are some associations of microlithiasis?
cryptorchidism, Klinefelter syndrome, Down syndrome, pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis, AIDS, neurofibromatosis, previous radiotherapy, and subfertility
How do epidydimal cysts present?
painless testicular swelling
palpable lump
How are epidydimal cysts formed?
result from blockage of epididymal ductules with proximal dilation.
How do epididymal cysts appear on ultrasound?
anechoic
well circumscribed lesion
no or fine echoes
sometimes with loculations and septations.
Rarely, spermatoceles will be hyperechoic
What are sperm granulomas?
found within the epididymis and vas deferens after vasectomy.
• This inflammatory reaction can be confused with epididymitis and antibiotic treatment will have no effect
• common sites are around the cut ends of the vas and the junction between the epididymal tail and the vas.
• firm nodules that can be quite painful
• can be small or large
• can vary in size over time
• Inflammatory hyperaemia may be seen around them
• variety of appearances on ultrasound.
What is most common cause of acute scrotal pain in postpubertal men?
Epididymitis. peak incidence 40-50yrs