APPENDIX TESTIS AND APPENDIX EPIDIDYMIS - INCIDENTAL FINDINGS IN INGUINAL-HERNIA AND CRYPTORCHIDISM OPERATIONS

Testicular appendages represent Iemnants of embryonic structures, The more important are appendix testis (AT) and appendix epididymis (AE), We searched for the presence of an AT or AE in 103 consecutive inguina l hernia and 39 cryptorchidism operations performed at our department during the last 2 years and found 114 ATs (80.28%) and 52 AEs (36.31%) . In 24 cases (16.9%) we found both appendages. The ages of our patien ts ranged from 2 months to 14 years. The diameter of the appendages wa s 0.3 - 1.7 cm. Histologically, ATs and AEs consisted of relatively va scular fibrous connective tissue. The surface epithelium was cuboidal in 77 cases, flat in 27, stratified-ciliated in 21, and cuboidal-cilia ted in 19. ATs and AEs are penduculated structures and consequently su bject to torsion, which is the commonest cause of testicular swelling in childhood and is accompanied by severe pain. To avoid this possibil ity, we suggest excision of these appendages in every operation for in guinal hernia and cryptorchidism.