Development and First Application of Combined Testicular Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting and ADC Mapping in Healthy Volunteers

Motivation: Azoospermia care often requires performing microdissection procedures for sperm extraction that are unsuccessful in 50% of men. Goal(s): Investigate the feasibility of a combined MRF and diffusion mapping protocol of the testicles, as well as quantify the normal ADC, T1 and T2 values of the left and right testicles. Approach: Regions of interest were annotated on ADC and T1 maps, these were copied to T2 maps. Results: Mean ADC, axial T1 and T2 values were similar between left and right testicles. Mean coronal T1 and T2 values of the left testicles were higher than those of the right testicles. Impact: The acquisition of a dedicated protocol for combined MRF and diffusion mapping of the testicles is feasible. This work paves the way for prospective studies investigating non-invasive characterization of the testicles in patients with obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.