[Clinical-epidemiological analysis of 159 children with cryptorchidism].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with Cryptorchidism in our milieu.

DESIGN

Crossover study.

SETTING

Specialist care.

PATIENTS: 159 children referred from Primary Care for a Cryptorchidism study.

MEASUREMENTS AND

RESULTS

Average age of detection: 1.5-3 years. Laterality: 120 unilateral (73 right and 47 left) and 39 bilateral. Family history of Cryptorchidism in 33 cases (20.7%). 68 children (42.7%) had some anatomical malformation associated with poor testicular descent. This percentage was significantly higher in children with bilateral Cryptorchidism than with unilateral (61.5% vs 36.6%; p < 0.05). Nine children defined with multiple malformation syndromes. Location of the testes after palpation: 29.3% not able to be palpated, 22.7% high inguinal, 23.2% low inguinal, 17.1% sliding, 5% retractile and 2.5% scrotal. All cases showed normal in the hormonal study, except one case of Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnoses of Cryptorchidism were not early. Family history and associated malformations in the body himself often exist. Hormonal levels are normal. Echography is of little use in locating testes that cannot be palpated.