[Testicular microlithiasis and cryptorchism: ultrasound analysis after orchidopexy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the testicular ultrasound features and frequency of testicular microlithiasis in a population of patients operated several years before for cryptorchidism, in order to define a group at possible increased risk of testicular cancer.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of 202 patients, 63 of whom were reviewed by ultrasound with a mean follow-up of 9 years 3 months (7 years 5 months to 11 years 7 months).


RESULTS
32% of operated testes were hypotrophic compared to the correctly descended side; their mean volume was 9.42 ml versus 11 ml for the nonoperated side. 14.3% of surgically descended testes presented an ultrasonographically heterogeneous parenchyma and microlithiasis were present in 9.52% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between microlithiasis and cryptorchidism is not an incidental finding. Apart from the relative hypotrophy of the testis, ultrasound also revealed, in our study, that the presence of microlithiasis is not an extremely rare finding. Annual ultrasound surveillance is therefore required due to the risk of malignant transformation of these microlithiases.
Nicolas
F
F
Service de Chirurgie infantile, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
Dubois
R
R
Laboure
S
S
Dodat
H
H
Canterino
I
I
Rouviere
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002137:Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography