DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC LAPAROSCOPY OF THE NONPALPABLE TESTIS

We report about laparoscopic examination and treatment of 19 patients with 25 non-palpable testes. Thirteen patients presented with unilater al and six patients with bilateral absent testes, respectively. In all cases of non-palpable testes laparoscopy was able to determine the ex act localization and supported the surgical approach. Six testicles we re treated by open orchiectomy after diagnostic laparoscopy; three tes tes were fixed by laparoscopically assisted orchiopexy. Three patients (three testicles) were treated by standard orchiopexy after laparosco py and in three. cases mikrovascular autotransplantation was performed . Laparoscopically, five aplastic testicles without vas and vessels we re diagnosed. Three testes were considered as vanishing and in two pat ients (two testes) due to previous surgical exploration elsewhere test icular remnants were totally atrophic and were resected with the adjac ent vas. All laparoscopic findings except the vanishing testis Syndrom e were proven either by open surgery or by laparoscopic preparation of the internal inguinal ring.