title: Does early orchidopexy prevent morphological changes in undescended testes? A perioperative assessment using ultrasonography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the efficacies of early orchidopexy on later morphological changes in the testis using ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 23 consecutive patients with unilateral undescended testis operated on in our institution between 1992 and 2001 were reviewed in the historical cohort design. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their age at the time of surgery: group A included the patients who underwent surgery before age 2 (n = 13), and group B included those who were operated on at 2 years of age or older (n = 10). The mean undescended testicular volume and the incidence risk of morphological abnormalities detected by ultrasonography were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 5 years after orchidopexy, the difference in the mean volume between the two groups was not statistically significant. The incidence risk of structural abnormalities at 5 years after orchidopexy was lower in group A than in group B (25.0 vs. 83.3%, p = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study thus provides evidence that orchidopexy at a younger age could prevent morphological changes in the undescended testis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, St. Lukes International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. hirotakemitchy@a6.keio.jp
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michikawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsufuji
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakamura