[HCG in the treatment of cryptorchidism. The effect of age and position of the testis].
In a recent study, the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the treatment of children with cryptorchidism aged less than four years was questioned. The purpose of the present study was to determine, on the basis of a retrospective examination of patients' records, the effect of HCG treatment, whether outcomes are age-dependent and whether the effects of treatment are related to the position of the testis. Patients diagnosed with undescended testis who had been treated at the Department of Urology at Gentofte Hospital (Copenhagen) in the period from 1 November 1998 to 31 May 2003 were identified. Patients who had been treated with HCG were included in the sample. Boys who at an earlier stage had been operated on in the inguinal or scrotal region, or who had suffered from inguinal hernia, were excluded, and clinical retractile testes were separated from true undescended testes. The criterion of success for efficient treatment was complete descent to the bottom of the scrotum. In the 306 records examined, 121 patients met the inclusion criteria. In total, there were 170 undescended testes. The patients' median age at time of treatment was 3.6 years. The overall success rate was 34.7%. The success rates in the individual age categories were: 1-2 years, 36.7%; 3-4 years, 33.4%; and 5-13 years, 35%. The position of the testis at the beginning of treatment showed that the lower the pretreatment position, the better the success rate. The overall success of HCG treatment of cryptorchidism was 34.7%. No age dependency of HCG effects was found, but the position of the testis before treatment influenced the success rate.
Kjaer
Søren
S
Amtssygehus i Herlev, Urologisk Afdeling H. kjaer@tiscali.dk
Mikines
Kári J
KJ
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin