[Hemospermia: role of transrectal echography]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Andrology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Hemospermia is a common, benign condition with an unknown prevalence.
• Idiopathic causes account for approximately 50% of hemospermia cases.
• Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) has become a valuable tool for evaluating hemospermia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and Stamey test in patients with hemospermia.
• To identify the prevalence of infectious and non-infectious causes of hemospermia.
• To assess the types of abnormalities detected by TRUS in hemospermia patients.

Main Methods:

• Eighty patients diagnosed with hemospermia were enrolled in the study.
• Diagnostic methods included Stamey test, semen analysis and culture, and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS).
• Data on infection, white blood cell counts in expressed prostatic secretions, and TRUS findings were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Infection was detected in 20% of patients, and excessive white blood cells in prostatic secretions were found in 14%.
• TRUS revealed abnormalities in 88% of patients, including calculi (60%), dilated seminal vesicles (31.4%), and müllerian duct cysts (8.6%).
• The Stamey test and TRUS collectively demonstrated pathological causes in approximately 90% of the cases studied.

Conclusions:

• Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and the Stamey test are highly effective diagnostic investigations for hemospermia.
• These methods can identify the pathological causes of hemospermia in a significant majority of patients.
• TRUS is particularly useful for detecting structural abnormalities contributing to hemospermia.