Prevalence of acquired undescended testis in 6-year, 9-year and 13-year-old Dutch schoolboys.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of acquired undescended testis (UDT) in Dutch schoolboys.

DESIGN AND

PARTICIPANTS

As a part of routine school medical examinations, during a 2-year period (2001-3), testis position was determined in 6-year, 9-year and 13-year-old schoolboys. Before the examination, a parent questionnaire was sent inquiring both about the position of the testes and whether the child had been admitted earlier to hospital for orchidopexy. In 6-year and 13-year olds, a physical examination was performed by the school medical officer; in 9-year olds, a school nurse interview was held. Each boy for whom there was any doubt of the scrotal position was referred to the hospital for examination of both testes.

SETTING

Institution for Youth Health Care "Noordkennemerland" and Medical Centre Alkmaar, Alkmaar, the Netherlands.

RESULTS

Testis position was determined in 2042 boys aged 6, 1038 aged 9 and 353 aged 13. Of these, 47, 53 and 8 boys, respectively, were referred to the hospital and seen for further evaluation. The diagnosis of acquired UDT was made in 25 boys aged 6, 23 aged 9 and four aged 13. In 33 boys, a congenital UDT was diagnosed; 32 (97%) had already been diagnosed and treated at an early age.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of acquired UDT for 6-year, 9-year and 13-year olds was, respectively, 1.2% (25/2042), 2.2% (23/1038) and 1.1% (4/353). In addition, congenital UDT is treated during the early years of life and, in contrast with popular belief, screening programmes for detecting UDT in the early years are successful.