The spectrum of genitourinary abnormalities in patients with cryptorchidism, with emphasis on testicular carcinoma.

A spectrum of genitourinary abnormalities occur in patients with cryptorchidism; the most important is the enhanced susceptibility to developing testis cancer. While the etiologic basis for developing testis cancer in cryptorchid patients remains controversial, failure of normal testicular development--testicular dysgenesis--may underlie carcinogenesis in the cryptorchid testis. This report reviews these associations as well as the characteristics of testis cancer in the cryptorchid testis and the evidence supporting early orchiopexy.