Such diagnoses can be more easily made by a thorough history and physical examination. Abnormalities of sperm head shape, such as round heads or absent acrosomes are clearly defined with the electron microscope, but can also be diagnosed with routine staining and light microscopy. Flow cytometric evaluation of testis biopsies can detect different patterns of nucleic acid content and distribution. Maturation beyond the meiotic stage can readily be detected with flow cytometry. This technique might prove to be a useful screening tools when standards have been validated.
Complications When performed with care, testis biopsy is associated with few complications.
The most serious misadventure associated with testis biopsy would be biopsy of the wrong structure, in particular biopsy of the epididymis. If examination of the biopsy material reveals epididymis with sperm within the epididymal tubule, obstruction of the epididymis at the site of the biopsy is certain. If, however, biopsy of the epididymis reveals the absence of sperm in the tubules, no serious harm has been done, and the patient is either obstructed above the level of the biopsy or has primary seminiferous tubular failure and is not making sperm. Large hematomas can result from testis biopsy if the testicular artery on the surface of the tunica albuginia has been injured. If this injury is not recognized, hematomas can grow to frightening size and require drainage.