Cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is an undescended testicle, it can linger on the back wall of the abdominal cavity, in the inguinal canal, at the outer opening of the inguinal canal. The testicle is fully formed in the fourth month of intrauterine development, on the fifth month it reaches the inner opening of the inguinal canal, in the seventh and eighth month - the root of the scrotum. At birth in 95% of cases, it occupies a normal position, a month later the normal position of the testicle is already noted in 99% of children. In 1/3 of the cases, cryptorchidism is false: the mobile testicle is easily displaced into the inguinal canal, it can be freely inserted into the scrotum during examination.

Symptoms, course. There is no testicle in the scrotum. If one testicle is defined in the scrotum, the second is usually located at the outer opening of the inguinal canal or at the root of the scrotum, usually it is atrophied. Often there is a decrease in spermatogenesis. In 25% of cases, inguinal hernia is defined. During the operation, 95% of patients find the non-littered vaginal process of the peritoneum. The risk of malignancy of the undescended testis is 14 times higher than that of the desiccated testicle, and is 3.6%.

Treatment. In the first 2 years of life, conservative treatment is possible: during 5 weeks 2 times a week 500 IU of chorionic gonadotropin. The effectiveness of such treatment does not exceed 20%. In the absence of the effect, an operation is performed-the re-entry of the testicle into the scrotum with its fixation and hernioplasty.