Testicular growth from birth to two years of age, and the effect of orchidopexy at age nine months: a randomized, controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To study whether surgical treatment at age 9 mo in boys with congenital unilaterally palpable undescended testes (cryptorchidism) is followed by improved growth of the previously retained testes compared to non-treatment.


METHODS
At the age of 6 mo, 70 boys were randomized to surgical treatment at 9 mo and 79 boys to treatment at 3 y of age. The boys were then followed at 12 and 24 mo. Ultrasonography was used to determine testicular volume.


RESULTS
After orchidopexy, the previously retained testes resumed growth and were significantly larger than the non-operated testes at 2 y (0.49 ml vs 0.36 ml, p<0.001). Testicular growth after orchidopexy was also demonstrated by a higher mean ratio between the previously retained and the scrotal testes of the individual boys at 2 y: 0.84 for the surgically treated group, compared to 0.63 for the untreated group (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery at 9 mo has a beneficial effect on the growth of previously undescended testes.
Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institut, Stockholm, Sweden.
Claude
C
Kollin
Ulf
U
Hesser
E Martin
EM
Ritzén
Bengt
B
Karpe
D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography