PREOPERATIVE LAPAROSCOPIC LOCALIZATION OF THE NONPALPABLE TESTIS - A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF A 10-YEAR EXPERIENCE

Laparoscopy was performed on 107 patients 8 months to 18.5 years old ( mean age 46.9 months) with 119 nonpalpable testes. The procedure accur ately determined the location of the gonad in 95.3% of the patients, w hile 16 were spared formal surgical exploration with the laparoscopic visualization of blind-ending spermatic vessels and vasa deferentia. A dditionally, patency of the internal inguinal ring, determined laparos copically, was an accurate predictor of testicular salvageability. We advocate the use of laparoscopy for all boys with a nonpalpable gonad in conjunction with operative intervention if necessary.