Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of non-palpable testes.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether laparoscopy is a reliable method for the diagnosis of non-palpable testes.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

From January 1991 to February 1993 laparoscopy was performed in 126 patients, aged 6 months to 29 years (mean 5.2 years), with non-palpable testes. Of these, 98 had unilateral and 16 bilateral non-palpable testis, and 12 had previously undergone corrective surgery. Within the same period, 1163 patients underwent surgery for undescended testes.

RESULTS

In the group of 126 patients, 146 testes were searched for. The testes were laparoscopically diagnosed in 70 instances (48%). Of these, 46 were unilateral, 18 bilateral, and six testes were in children who had previously undergone surgery. Non-palpable testes were predominantly on the left side. All testes located were situated between the external iliac vessels and the internal inguinal ring or within the inguinal ring. Of the 146 testes searched for, 76 (52%) were absent.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopy is the most satisfactory method for the diagnosis of non-palpable testes, when carried out by an experienced endoscopist.