Relevance of herniography for accurate diagnosis of patent processus vaginalis in cryptorchidism.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the role of peritoneography in assessing the patency of processus vaginalis (PV) in pediatric patients diagnosed with cryptorchidism.


METHODS
We designed a prospective clinical trial to evaluate the patency of PV in boys presenting cryptorchidism. Herniography was performed in 310 prepubertal boys. Data about the morphology of PV was compared with operative findings in those surgically treated patients. Retractile and ectopic testes were excluded from the study.


RESULTS
Of the 376 undescended testes (310 patients), 281 cases were associated with an obliterated PV. Herniography revealed 95 cases of open PV in cryptorchid boys. The 244 normally descended testes had associated patent processus vaginalis in only 31 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Herniography is the most relevant procedure for accurate diagnosis of persistent PV. The persistence of PV was significantly more frequent when the position of the testes is more cranial. The incidence of an open PV decreases with age.
Varela-Cives
R
R
Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatrics, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. pdvarela@usc.es
Bautista-Casasnovas
A
A
Taboada-Santomil
P
P
Estevez-Martinez
E
E
Mendez-Gallart
R
R
Pombo-Arias
M
M
Tojo-Sierra
R
R
D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D003950:Diagnostic Techniques, Urological / Q000592:standards*; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography