The effects of anti‐leukemic therapy on gonadal histology in adult males

Testicular histologic findings in 29 male patients who died of acute leukemia or blastic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia are reviewed to evaluate the effect of therapy on morphology. Four histologic groups were identified that correlated with the duration of treatment: (1) normal testes associated with no therapy or therapy for less than 30 days; (2) maturation arrest in those treated for five days to 40 months; (3) hypospermatogenesis in those treated from 17 days to 84 months; and (4) Sertoli cells only in those treated from between three and 63 months. These histologic patterns correlated more with the duration of therapy than the type of anti‐leukemic therapy used. There was some variability in the histologic effects among individuals receiving comparable durations and types of chemotherapy. In many patients who received extensive therapy, spermatogonia remain which may allow recovery of spermatogenesis and fertility.