Trends in treatment outcomes for retractile testis in Japanese boys: A single-center study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the natural course of retractile testis by analyzing its prevalence and outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 215 boys in whom retractile testis was diagnosed after reviewing the medical history and physical examinations of the patients. Orchiopexy was performed once the testis became undescended. We investigated the trends in the prevalence and outcomes of retractile testis and compared clinical factors between cases that resolved spontaneously and those that required orchiopexy.

RESULTS

Of 215 boys, 145 were finally evaluated. The mean age at diagnosis was 2 years, and 100 boys were aged ≤2 years when they were hospitalized. Seventy-three boys were referred to our institution through health examinations as babies. The condition improved spontaneously in 89 boys, while 43 boys underwent orchiopexy, and 13 boys remained under follow-up. The follow-up period between diagnosis and resolution was significantly longer in the spontaneous resolution group than in the surgical intervention group (P = 0.011). Bilateral retractile testis improved spontaneously in significantly more boys compared to unilateral retractile testis (P = 0.0010). Spontaneous resolution was observed in boys of all ages, but those diagnosed at ≤3 years of age had a significantly higher rate of spontaneous resolution compared to those who were diagnosed at >3 years of age (P = 0.0019).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that retractile testis cannot be affirmed as a variant of normal testis. Performing examinations at a young age is critical for preventing misdiagnosis, screening failures, and unnecessary surgery.