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Undescended testicle
Definition:
The testicles develop before birth in the abdominal cavity. Normally, they descend into the scrotum before birth. Undescended testicle occurs when one or both testicles fail to move into the scrotum prior to birth. Alternative Names:
Cryptorchidism; Empty scrotum - undescended testes; Scrotum - empty (undescended testes); Monorchism; Vanished testes - undescended
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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Undescended testicles are fairly common in premature infants, and occur in about 3 to 4% of full-term infants. About 65% of the testicles typically descend by 9 months of age.
Once a testicle has been discovered in the scrotum, it is generally considered descended, even if it is temporarily retracted on a later examination. Sometimes a condition (referred to as retractile testes) will develop, in which the examiner can sometimes locate the testicles and sometimes not. This occurs because of the strength of the muscular reflex (cremasteric reflex) that retracts the testicles and the small mass of the testicles before puberty. In this instance, the testicles descend at puberty. This is considered a variant of normal and surgical correction is not needed.
Testicles that do not descend by one year of age should be carefully evaluated. The literature suggest that definitive surgery should be accomplished by this age to confirm diagnosis and to lessen the likelihood of permanent testicular damage. Testicles that do not naturally descend into the scrotum are considered abnormal throughout the patient's life. These undescended testicles have an increased likelihood of developing cancer regardless of whether or not they are brought down into the scrotum.
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