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Does treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin induce reversible changes in undescended testes in boys?

Pediatric Surgery International volume 12, pages 591–594 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

Between May 1993 and November 1995, 71 cryptorchid boys were treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); 42 were operated upon following unsuccesful hCG treatment. A routine orchiopexy was performed in each case. In 10 cases a testicular biopsy was made during orchipexy within 3 days following hCG treatment; in another 10 biopsies were taken 6 to 9 months after treatment. Testicular biosies were taken at the time of orchiopexy in 5 cryptorchid boys who were not treated with hCG as a control group. A mild, inflammation-like reaction was found in the cryptorchid testes in the period immediately following the last hCG injections, but those studied 6 to 9 months after the last injection there were no apparent such reactions. In contrast to the inflammation-like reaction, the volume density of blood vessels, interstitial bleeding, and diameter of the seminiferous tubules had not regressed. The numbers of spermatogonia per tubular transverse section and the percentage of tubular transverse sections containing spermatogonia (the fertility index) were increased.

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Author notes

  1. S. Demirbilek

    Present address: ISSK Ankara Çocuk Hastakiklari Eĝitim Hastanesi, Çocuk Cerrahisi Klinigi, 06110, Ankara, Turkey

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pathology, Social Security Council, Ankara Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    S. Demirbilek, H. F. Atayurt & G. Aydin

  2. Department of Pathology, Social Security Council Ankara Children's Hosiptal, Ankara, Turkey

    N. Çelik

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  1. S. Demirbilek
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  2. H. F. Atayurt
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  3. N. Çelik
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  4. G. Aydin
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Demirbilek, S., Atayurt, H.F., Çelik, N. et al. Does treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin induce reversible changes in undescended testes in boys?. Pediatr Surg Int 12, 591–594 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371906

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371906

Key words

  • Undescended testis
  • Human chorionic gonadotropin treatment
  • Testicular biopsy