Testicular volume after prepubertal orchidopexie of the acquired non scrotal testis

Failure of a testicle descended in later life can increase the risk of a
malignant neoplasm and impaired fertility. The CBO consensus of 1986
recommends surgical treatment, through orchidopexie, for the congenital
undescended testis before the age of 2 to 3 years
Since several years it is clear that in addition to a congenital form of
undescended testis, an acquired form exists. Boys in whom the testis was
initially well-descended later may be diagnosed with a testicle in a stable
location outside the scrotum; an acquired undescended testis
Although for the congenital form of undescended testis a good guideline for the
treatment exists, there is no evidence-based advice for the treatment of the
acquired form.

In the Juliana Children's Hospital each year more than 100 operations are done
for the undescended testis.
75% Of these boys are over 2 years of age. Most likely this includes a large
number of boys with the acquired form of undescended testis.
We want to investigate the long-term consequences of the described
pre-pubertal orchidopexie for the acquired form of undescended testis.

In this study we aim to investigate the long-term results of the prepuberal
orchidopexie for the acquired undescended testis. The volume and location of
the testis are primary outcome parameters that display the result. This
information will contribute to creating an unambiguous treatment advice for the
acquired form of undescended testis

For all 2-18 year old boys in whom orchidopexie was conducted in the Juliana
Children's Hospital in The Hague, in the period from 1996 to 2009, we will
check the folowing data in the medical record: orchidopexie indication, the
date of the surgery, the side (single or double sided) and the findings at
surgery.
There will also be registrated whether the previous testis position was known
at the time of the assessment.
Of all the boys who underwent orchidopexie for an undescended testis we will
check the registration of the former testicle position until the date of
surgery at the Youth Health care institute.
If twice or more times a scrotal postion was administrated, we will define it
as a form of acquired undescended testis.
Every boy in this period which has undergone a prepubertal orchidopexie for the
acquired form of undescended testis will be asked to participate in this study.
Participating boys will be seen in the outward patients clinic for follow up.
Outcome parameters will be the location of the testis and testisvolume. The
location will be scored by physical examination. The volume will be scored by
using the Prader orchidometer and ultrasound.

The volume will be compared to normal values of testisvolume which has
recently been determined by the Alkmaar study group (see Annex).

Statistical analysis will take place with SPSS, anonymous.

not applicable