Observational studyAndrology2022
From subjective to objective: A pilot study on testicular radiomics analysis as a measure of gonadal function.
Observational study in Andrology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Machine Learning Evaluation of Semen Analysis Could Reveal New Infertility-Related Markers: A Pilot Study.The world journal of men's health · 2026Article
- The value of ultrasound texture analysis in the diagnosis of pathological types of primary testicular tumours in adults.BMC cancer · 2025Article
- Recent advances in the management of male infertility.Asian journal of andrology · 2025Review
- Prediction of testicular histology in azoospermia patients through deep learning-enabled two-dimensional grayscale ultrasound.Asian journal of andrology · 2025Article
- Predicting Semen Analysis Parameters from Testicular Ultrasonography Images Using Deep Learning Algorithms: An Innovative Approach to Male Infertility Diagnosis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Artificial intelligence in andrology - fact or fiction: essential takeaway for busy clinicians.Asian journal of andrology · 2024Review
- Male Infertility: New Developments, Current Challenges, and Future Directions.The world journal of men's health · 2024Review
- Ultrasound-based deep learning radiomics nomogram for risk stratification of testicular masses: a two-center study.Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology · 2024Article
- Artificial Intelligence in Andrology: From Semen Analysis to Image Diagnostics.The world journal of men's health · 2024Review
- A survey of testicular texture in canine ultrasound images.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2023Article
- A first look into radiomics application in testicular imaging: A systematic review.Frontiers in radiology · 2023Review
- From subjective to objective: A pilot study on testicular radiomics analysis as a measure of gonadal function.Andrology · 2022Observational
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe connection between testicular ultrasound (US) parameters and testicular function, including both spermato- and steroidogenesis has been largely suggested, but their predictive properties are not routinely applied. Radiomics, a new engineering approach to radiological imaging, could overcome the visual limit of the sonographer.
objectivesThis study is aimed at extracting objective testicular US features, correlating with testicular function, including both spermato- and steroidogenesis, using an engineering approach, in order to overcome the operator-dependent subjectivity. MATERIALS AND
methodsProspective observational pilot study from December 2019 to December 2020 on normozoospermic subjects and patients with semen variables alterations, excluding azoospermia. All patients underwent conventional semen analysis, pituitary-gonadal hormones assessment, and testicular US, performed by the same operator. US images were analyzed by Biolab (Turin) throughout image segmentation, image pre-processing, and texture features extraction.
resultsOne hundred seventy US testicular images were collected from 85 patients (age 38.6 ± 9.1 years). A total of 44 first-order and advanced features were extracted. US inhomogeneity defined by radiomics significantly correlates with the andrologist definition, showing for the first time a mathematical quantification of a subjective US evaluation. Thirteen US texture features correlated with semen parameters, predicting sperm concentration, total sperm number, progressive motility, total motility and morphology, and with gonadotropins serum levels, but not with total testosterone serum levels. Classification analyses confirmed that US textural features predicted patients' classification according to semen parameters alterations.
conclusionsRadiomics texture features qualitatively describe the testicular parenchyma with objective and reliable quantitative parameters, reflecting both the testicular spermatogenic capability and the action of pituitary gonadotropins. This is an innovative model in which US texture features represent a mirror of the pituitary-gonadal homeostasis in terms of reproductive function.
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