THE BEHAVIOR OF EPIDIDYMIS, PROCESSUS-VAGINALIS AND TESTICULAR DESCENT IN CRYPTORCHID BOYS TREATED WITH BUSERELIN

This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was initiated t o analyze the behavior of epididymis, processus vaginalis and testicul ar descent in cryptorchid boys treated with a low dose (20 mug) of a l uteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (Buserelin), administere d daily, as a nasal spray, for a short period (28 days). Fifty-nine tr ue cryptorchid boys were randomly assigned to 3 groups: buserelin trea tment [22], surgical treatment [18] or placebo control group [19]. The 3 groups of patients were similar before treatment in regard to testi cular position, chronological and bone age, height and weight, luteini zing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, penile size and the volume of the contralateral descended testis. None of the pati ents had retractile testes. Buserelin significantly induced testicular descent compared to the boys treated with a placebo (P< 0.01). A norm al epididymis was found more often in boys with successful descent (P< 0.003). A closed processus vaginalis was also more frequently observed in the group treated with buserelin than in surgically treated one (P < 0.05). In conclusion, buserelin was capable of inducing testicular d escent besides provoking further development of the epididymis and clo sing the processus vaginalis.