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Cryptorchidism, Empty Scrotum

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Abstract

Cryptorchidism is a frequent disorder: 2–5 % of the neonates born at term and about 20 % of those with a birth weight <2,500 g have cryptorchidism (i.e., bilateral altogether in 45 %), and still 1 % at the age of 1 year and somewhat less after the end of growth. Recently, the prevalence of cryptorchidism is increasing in some developed countries. Its clinical significance is many and diverse:

  • Possible impairment of fertility (reduced germ cell number at birth or general depletion of germ and to a lesser degree of Leydig cells after birth and specifically loss from 6 months to 4 years of age [due to maternal lifestyle or exposition to diethylstilbestrol and factors related to failing descent]).

  • Increased risk of testicular malignancy (2.75–8 times increased risk of neoplasm for the undescended testis).

  • Pathologies which become visible and palpable in descended testes, for example, testicular torsion # or tumor, may be hidden.

  • Psychological effect on the developed young man is possible.

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General: Occurrence, Clinical Skills, Differential Diagnosis

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery Inselspital, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland

    Prof. em. Georges L. Kaiser

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  1. Prof. em. Georges L. Kaiser
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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kaiser, G.L. (2012). Cryptorchidism, Empty Scrotum. In: Symptoms and Signs in Pediatric Surgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31161-1_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31161-1_31

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-31160-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-31161-1

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