Clinical features of patients with detached ciliary tufts in semen

Cilia in the male genital tract are found on the epithelium of the ductuli efferentes, epididymis and vas deferens. Detached ciliary tufts (DCTs) were observed in semen of 13 men and this paper deals with the clinical features of these patients. There was a high incidence of smoking (73%), diminished testicular volume in 64%, a high number with previous urological surgery and trauma and an increased percentage of cytoplasmic droplets. It is postulated that DCTs originate from the epididymal ephithelium. DCTs are possibly shedded as part of epididymal involvement which occurs as a result of testicular pathology caused by several agents.