Testicular Tumors in Undescended Testes in Children Below 5 y of Age.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the presentation, treatment and outcome of testicular tumors in undescended testes (UDT) in boys below 5 y of age.

METHODS

Case records of boys below 5 y of age, diagnosed to have germ cell tumors (GCT) in the UDT were reviewed.

RESULTS

Seven children in the age range of 05-54 mo (mean 26 mo) were included. While five of these 7 (71 %) presented with abdominal mass [one antenatally detected], 2 (29 %) were detected to have a GCT during orchiopexy. In three of these five with abdominal mass, the alpha-fetoprotein (αFP) was markedly elevated. Two of these three with elevated αFP were endodermal sinus tumors while the third was embryonal carcinoma. The 4th patient with an abdominal mass was diagnosed to have an immature teratoma (IMT) while the patient with antenatally diagnosed mass had a mature cystic teratoma (MT). Both the patients with incidentally detected mass during the orchiopexy had mature teratoma (MT). All the seven children are alive and disease free at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Though rare, boys with impalpable undescended testes may develop germ cell tumors early in childhood. These can be managed with chemotherapy and resection and have a good disease free outcome.