Testicular Biopsy as the Most Sensitive Diagnostic Method for Amyloidosis

Both local and systemic amyloidosis are characterized by a wide variety of symptoms, usually vague and difficult to interpret. These symptoms reflect the type of amyloidosis, the organs affected and the clinical stage. The diagnosis of amyloidosis is based on the demonstration of amyloid deposits in a tissue biopsy. Early detection is necessary to institute appropriate therapy. The most frequent specimens for histological study are from rectal mucosa, skin, salivary glands, and bone marrow. The demonstration of amyloid varies widely in these tissues. The testicle is an organ that is affected in most instances of amyloidosis, and impaired testicular function may even be the first sign of systemic amyloidosis. Comparative study with biopsy results from other tissues or organs shows that testicular biopsy is the most sensitive for diagnosing systemic amyloidosis.