Quantitative MRI for Functional Imaging of the Testis: A New Methodology for Evaluation of the Infertile Male

January 25, 2019 updated by: NYU Langone Health
Infertility-the inability to conceive despite one year of properly timed unprotected intercourse-is a common problem. Of all types of male factor infertility, non-obstructive azoospermia may be the most difficult for couples. Importantly, patients with non-obstructive azoospermia are asked to make difficult decisions in terms of reproductive choice; surgical attempts at identifying sperm (microdissection testicular sperm extraction) are often offered to these patients without a guarantee of being able to identify sperm. New methodologies in terms of evaluation of azoospermic males PRIOR to the couple embarking upon IVF are needed urgently. The other potential benefit of non-invasive determination of testis function and spermatogenesis would be the potential targeting of sperm extraction procedures. We hypothesize that quantitative MRI employing advanced functional metrics will be sensitive to functional and metabolic differences between subsets of azoospermic cases and will improve upon current characterization of patients with this condition. Moreover, it is believed that these techniques will provide complementary information, such that they may be combined in a synergistic fashion for targeted extraction methodologies.

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Of all types of male factor infertility, non-obstructive azoospermia may be the most difficult for couples. Azoospermia (both obstructive and non-obstructive) occurs in approximately 10-20% of all infertile males with non-obstructive azoospermia encompassing the majority of cases.

In this study, quantitative MRI will be investigated by employing advanced functional metrics for addressing these challenges. Specifically, diffusion-weighted imaging will be assessed, multi-echo T2 mapping, arterial-spin labeling, and spectroscopy. No intravenous contrast will be administered for purposes of this study. It is hypothesized that these techniques will be sensitive to functional and metabolic differences between subsets of azoospermic cases and will improve upon current characterization of patients with this condition. Moreover, it is believed that these techniques will provide complementary information, such that they may be combined in a synergistic fashion for targeted extraction methodologies.

The goal of this exploratory study is to investigate whether associations exist between quantitative MRI metrics and the previously noted features of testis architecture.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men with normospermia who are initiating testosterone replacement and are over 18 years of age will provide semen samples to NYU Fertility Center.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Ferromagnetic implants such as aneurysm clips, surgical clips, prostheses, artificial heart, valves with steel parts, metal fragments, shrapnel, bullets, tattoos near the eye, or steel implants.
  • Substance abuse, medical, psychological, or social conditions that may interfere with the patient's participation in the study.
  • All women are excluded as such patients do not have the relevant anatomy being considered in this study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: MRI
Device: MRI
Imaging will be performed using a clinical whole-body MRI and a pelvic phased-array coil. No intravenous contrast will be administered. Sequences will include Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), T2 mapping, arterial spin labeling, and spectroscopy. The acquisition is expected to take approximately one hour

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Testis Function from Quantitative MRI
Time Frame: Six Months
Six Months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Joseph Alukal, MD, NYU Langone Health

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 28, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 28, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

April 29, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 29, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 25, 2019

Last Verified

January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 14-01637

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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