title: Current management of non-palpable testes: a literature review and clinical results.
abstract: Cryptorchidism is a common pathology that occurs in 3% in full term newborns, and it decreases to 0.8-1.2% at 1 year of age. Nearly a 20% of undescended testes are non-palpable. Various surgical treatments have been described, but its management is still controversial. A literature review was made of non-palpable testes, analysing diagnostic tools, treatment and its results. Additionally we reviewed non-palpable testes cases treated in our centre in the last 20 years. Different techniques are described for the management of non-palpable testes; with or without section of the spermatic vessels and/or in 1 or 2 stages. Nowadays, literature supports the laparoscopic management in two stages. In our experience, we have better results in two-stage Fowler-Stephens than one-stage, with lower rates of testicular atrophy. Non-palpable testes are a common pathology in paediatric urology. Analysing the literature and our experience we recommend a two-stage surgery for intra-abdominal testes, which has demonstrated good results and lower percentage of atrophic testis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Valparaíso, Dr. Gustavo Fricke Hospital, Viña del Mar, Chile.
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Urology Service, Dr. Exequiel González Cortés Hospital, Santiago, Chile;; Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile;; Clínica Alemana, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Pedro-José López
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Egaña
keywords: Testis; laparoscopic; management; paediatric