title: Cryptorchidism: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
abstract: Cryptorchidism is a common genital anomaly diagnosed at birth or during childhood. Genetic and/or environmental factors that alter expression or function of hormones crucial for testicular descent, insulin-like 3, and testosterone, may contribute to cryptorchidism. When identified at birth, surgical treatment is indicated by 6 months of age if testes fail to descend, or at the time of diagnosis in older children. A laparoscopic approach is preferred for abdominal testes. Early surgical therapy may reduce the risk of subfertility and/or malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Division of Pediatric Urology, Wilmington, DE 19803-3607, USA.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Julia S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Barthold
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Kolon
mesh_terms: D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male