SPONTANEOUS ASCENT OF THE TESTIS

Objective To report confirmed cases of spontaneous testicular ascent i n patients with a cryptorchid testis which had been previously placed in the scrotum, Patients and methods Between 1972 and 1992, 46 cryptor chid testes (36 patients), which were previously verified to be in the scrotum by staff paediatricians or paediatric surgeons, were treated surgically. The clinical, surgical and anatomicopathological records w ere reviewed to determine testicular position and associated condition s, and biopsies were taken from 35 testes. Results The mean time betwe en the last 'normal' exploration until the testes ascended was 4.5 yea rs. Before ascent, the testes were confirmed to be in the scrotum by u p to seven separate recorded examinations, During surgical treatment, an open processus vaginalis was found in 18 testes. The mean (SD) tubu lar fertility index was 40 (37)%. Conclusion This study confirms that a previously descended testis can ascend spontaneously. The clinical a nd anatomicopathological characteristics of these testes were similar to those of the cryptorchid testis.