Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29808325›Full record

ReviewCurrent urology reports2018

Use of Ultrasound in Male Infertility: Appropriate Selection of Men for Scrotal Ultrasound.

Joseph M Armstrong, Sorena Keihani, James M Hotaling

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Current urology reports, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Joseph M ArmstrongDivision of Urology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Sorena KeihaniDivision of Urology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
James M HotalingDivision of Urology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. jim.hotaling@hsc.utah.edu.
University of Utah · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purpose of reviewMale factor infertility is a complex and multifaceted problem facing the modern urologist and is identified in 30-40% of infertile couples. This review focuses on the use of ultrasound, as an adjunct screening tool, in the initial evaluation of male infertility. RECENT

findingsAccess to male reproductive urologist for assessment of male infertility is limited and about a quarter of infertile couples do not complete the male component in their infertility assessment. Ultrasound evaluation of the infertile male is low-cost and non-invasive and helps uncover underlying pathologies that may be missed during the initial assessment. The addition of ultrasound allows the physician to accurately assess testicular anatomy and dimensions, as well as vascular environments, which may help guide treatment decisions. Scrotal ultrasound evaluation, in conjunction with a semen analysis and as an adjunct to physical exam, can be offered in the initial assessment of men who present for infertility consultation given its low cost, non-invasive nature, and ability to detect and discriminate between various etiologies of male infertility. Further, when directed by physical exam and semen analysis findings, it provides a valuable tool to select men for referral to a reproductive urologist, especially for infertile couples who are only screened by reproductive endocrinologists and female infertility specialists.

Indexed as

Cost-Benefit AnalysisGenital Diseases, MaleHumansInfertility, MaleMaleMass ScreeningOrgan SizeScrotumSemen AnalysisTestisUltrasonographyVascular ResistanceMale infertilityMen’s healthScrotal ultrasoundUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID29808325
OpenAlexW2805710618

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.