Role of Laparoscopy in Management of Non-palpable Undescended Testis : Assuit University Experience

Cryptorchidism or undescended testis (UDT) is one of the most common genital anomalies in childhood. Its incidence is 3-5 % in full term newborn, and affect more than one third of premature newborn. The incidence decrease to 1 % at age of 3months. About 20% of UDT are impalpable, and about 50% of these impalpable testes are either vanished or atrophic (1-3).

Many diagnostic methods have been used for the evaluation and management of the undescended testis, including imaging studies and multiple surgical procedures.

Surgical management of UDT is performed to preserve testicular function (spermatogenesis) and to prevent the potential complications of undescended testis(1).

Regarding the optimal age of orchiopexy many recent findings suggest that early intervention (6 -12 months of age) is most beneficial. Other findings suggest that there is high rate of spontaneous descent during the first 3 months of life, so observation of undescended testis is advocated till 3 months of age, if the testis remains non-palpable at 3 months of age, it is unlikely to become palpable by waiting another 3 months. Therefore, diagnostic laparoscopy and orchidopexy could be performed from 3 months of age(2).

For intraabdominal cryptorchidism, laparoscopic surgery has been accepted by most surgeons as the preferred technique for diagnosis & treatment (4).