GROSS MORPHOLOGIC VARIATIONS AND HISTOLOGIC-CHANGES IN CRYPTORCHID TESTES

Cryptorchid testes are frequently accompanied by gross morphologic cha nges with regard to the size and shape of the testis, various degrees of detachment between the epididymis and testis, elongation of the cau dal epididymis and vas deferens, as well as histologic changes. This s tudy examined the gross and microscopic testicular, epididymal, and va s changes in relation to various parameters in 824 patients operated u pon in our clinic during the last decade. The major findings were the following: (1) most patients (78.8%) were older than 4 years, and many older than 8 years (39.8%); (2) the frequency of abdominal undescende d testes decreased with increasing age (P <0.1), while the frequency o f suprascrotal testes increased with increasing age (P <0.001); (3) mo st of the undescended testes in a suprascrotal position were normal or had mild atrophy (78.7%), while those in intracanalicular, internal r ing, and abdominal positions frequently presented moderate or severe a trophy (71,38%; (P <0.0001); and (4) most suprascrotal testes were eit her normal or had mild extension and looping of the epididymis (63.8%) , while most of the intracanalicular, internal ring, and abdominal tes tes showed moderate or profound epididymal anomalies (63.4%; P <0.0001 ). We conclude that even though the necessity for early surgical corre ction of cryptorchidism is well established, these patients at least i n our region, still tend to come very late to surgery, with consequent increased risks of infertility and malignant transformation.