Long-term testicular growth and position after orchidopexy for congenital undescended testis.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate long-term testicular growth and the position of congenital undescended testes (UDT) after orchidopexy (ORP), taking into account that nowadays UDT has to be divided into congenital and acquired forms.


METHODS
This study included 181 patients with 199 congenital UDT (91 right-sided, 72 left-sided, 18 bilateral), in whom ORP had been carried out (1986-2006). Long-term testicular position and growth were assessed by clinical examination and ultrasound (US).


RESULTS
In 44.5% (65/146), testicular volume of the unilaterally operated congenital UDT was >50th percentile for age. In 55.5% (81/146), the volume was < or =50th percentile, and 13.0% (19/146) of these were < or =10th percentile. In 7 of 34 (20.6%) bilaterally operated congenital UDT, testicular volume was < or =10th percentile. The difference in size between the operated congenital UDT and the contralateral non-operated testes measured by both Prader orchidometer (p = 0.00) and US (p = 0.00) was statistically significant. There was a strong correlation between the orchidometer and US. On examination, 87.9% (175/199) of the operated testes were located in the lower scrotum.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that ORP for congenital UDT is safe, and even when performed later than current recommendations did not result in severe growth retardation.
Sijstermans
K
K
Department of Paediatrics, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands. k.sijstermans@mca.nl
Hack
W W M
WW
van der Voort-Doedens
L M
LM
Meijer
R W
RW
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors