[Surgical treatment of hermaphroditism in children (evaluation of surgical diagnostic procedures and surgical methods based on 56 treated cases)].

The author presented problems connected with surgical treatment of 56 hermaphrodite patients operated in Surgical Department of the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw. The classification of sexual abnormalities has been done in according to generally known pathological mechanisms of the external and internal genital organs development. Genital malformation may be due to presence of the abnormal pair of sex chromosomes, disturbed hormonal function of fetal testes, or suprarenal glands. The material was divided and discussed into three groups--mixed gonadal dysgenesis, male pseudohermaphroditism and female pseudohermaphroditism. Operative methods used in diagnostic investigations, and indications for surgical treatment have been considered separately for each group. Especially value of endoscopy and explorative laparotomy in the diagnosis of genital anomalies was stressed. The author presented the methods and own modifications used for reconstruction male and female external genitalia, and early and late results of surgical treatment. On the basis of them suggested trends for sex of rearing in children with ambiguous genitalia.