The results of surgical therapy for cryptorchidism: a literature review and analysis.

PURPOSE: The literature was reviewed to consolidate the diverse success rates reported for orchiopexy.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A total of 64 articles pertaining to 8,425 undescended testicles was reviewed and found to contain evaluable data. Success was defined as scrotal position and lack of atrophy.

RESULTS

Success rates by anatomical testicular position were 74% for abdominal, 82% for peeping and 87% for canalicular testes, and 92% for those located beyond the external ring. Success rates by procedure were 89% for inguinal, 67% for Fowler-Stephens, 77% for staged Fowler-Stephens, 81% for transabdominal, 73% for 2-stage and 84% for microvascular orchiopexy.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant failure rate for proximal testes suggests that efforts to improve orchiopexy should continue.