title: [Cryptorchidism: medium- and long-term follow-up].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cryptorchidism represents the most frequent male genital anomaly in paediatric population and may potentially interfere with fertility and determine neoplastic testicular diseases. We wanted to evaluate the correlation between age at orchiopexy and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels in adulthood, determining the long-term complications of surgical treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven patients (mean age 19 years, range 18-27) surgically treated for cryptorchidism in pediatric age were included in a medium and long-term follow-up (10-19 years). We divided this population into four groups: A) monolateral cryptorchidism operated on before 36 months of age (15); B) monolateral cryptorchidism operated on over 36 months (32); C) bilateral cryptorchidism operated on before 36 months (5); and D) bilateral cryptorchidism operated on over 36 months (5). All patients underwent andrological examination, testosterone, FSH and LH dosage, measurement of testicular volume and spermiogram.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant different FSH levels were found between group A and C and between A and D (P<0.01), while groups A and D presented also different mean testicular volume (P<0.01). In addition group D showed an abnormal morphology of spermiogram. The main complications found in follow-up were hydrocele (17,5%), varicocele (8,7%) and epididymal cysts (3.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monolateral cryptorchidism is associated with normal fertility when treated early (group A). Subjects in Group D, on the contrary, have a rise of FSH, a reduction of testicular volume and semen abnormalities. The long-term follow-up of these patients can also detect associated.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Salute della Donna, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italia. chped.articles@gmail.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parolini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arnoldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brisighelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leva
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Torricelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000601:surgery*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D056126:Orchiopexy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013088:Spermatocele / Q000209:etiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000209:etiology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014646:Varicocele / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006728:Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone