The concordance of testicular anatomic location in bilateral cryptorchidism.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of concordance of testicular anatomical location between both undescended testes based on surgical findings.

BACKGROUND

Cryptorchidism occurs in approximately 1% of boys over one year of age, and in 10-20% of these cases, the condition is bilateral. We report a series of 168 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of bilateral undescended testes who underwent surgical exploration and in whom two testes were surgically identified.

METHODS

The testicular location of both testes was stratified according to six anatomic regions. For each patient the anatomic site of each testis, both palpable and impalpable, and the surgical procedure required for orchidopexy were recorded.

RESULTS

The mean age was 59.3 months (2.5 months-21 years). In 90% of the cases the surgical technique was identical for both sides. Approximately two thirds of the patients were found to have both testes in concordant anatomical locations and in 88% the location of one testis was predictive within one anatomic "step" of the location of the contralateral gonad.

CONCLUSION

These findings may have significant implications for counseling families and anticipating the necessary surgical approach required when only one undescended testis has been localized preoperatively.