مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Undescended testis and the presence of concurrent inguinal hernia: A review

Abstract :

Cryptorchidism is defined as testes nonpalpabl in the scrotum. And they are generally undescended or aplastic. Cryptorchidism usually occurs among infants with congenital disorders and most cryptorchidic testicles are undescended. Between 2% and 5% of full-term and 30% of premature male infants are born with an undescended testicle. Approximately 10% of undescended testicle is bilateral and the most common location is just outside the external inguinal ring. Inguinal hernia that is characterized as patent prosesus vaginalis (PV) is the most common seen pathology concomitant to undescended testes. Primary inguinal hernia is present 1-5% of all infants. But this ratio rises up to 9-11% of premature babies. The patients are usually asymptomatic and the treatment needs surgical procedures. If urgent surgery is needed for incarcerated or strangulated inguinal hernia, orchiopexy procedure should be made together. In other conditions inguinal hernia requirement must be done during routine orchiopexy. The inguinal hernia with untreated undescended testes which is occult may become symptomatic or complicated such as incarceration or strangulation at any time. The incidence of inguinal hernia in the patients with undescended testes is controversial that different rates are reported in different series. According to our review of the literature, we determined that the rate of inguinal hernia and patent PV accompanying to undescended testes is 20% and 50%, respectively.