title: Decision making among different treatment options for neurologically impaired boys with undescended testis: a multinational pediatric survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the attitude of referring pediatricians towards the decision of treatment modalities for undescended testis (UDT) in neurologic impaired boys (NIB).
  
  
  METHODS
  An online questionnaire was offered to registered pediatricians in Austria and Germany for online completion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  221 male (61.6%) and 138 female (38.4%) pediatricians completed the survey; 326 (90.8%) believe that UDT should be treated according to national guidelines; 31 (8.6%) believe that UDT should be treated according to the parental wish, whereas only 2 (0.6%) tend to no treatment at all. Tumor prophylaxis, further sexual life, legal concerns, risks of anesthesia, and the choice of the parents have major impact on the perception of UDT. Moreover, fertility and limited life expectancy seem to be of minor importance only. In general, Pearson χ2 test could not identify age and sex of pediatricians as significant predictor of how the importance of the treatment of UDT is appraised.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the pediatric point of view UDT in NIB is an important issue and should be treated according to guidelines. Nevertheless, this study indicates the problems in decision-making and choosing the best management for UDT in NIB. Undoubtedly, further ethical discussion is needed to optimize treatment of UDT in NIB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. alexander.springer@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kidger
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krois
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fengler
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Reck
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horcher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056126:Orchiopexy / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult