CRYPTORCHIDISM ASSOCIATED WITH MENINGOMYELOCELE

Objective: The authors studied 75 male infants with meningomyelocele ( MMC) to analyse the association with cryptorchidism. Methods: All infa nts were diagnosed at birth and surgically corrected after 24-48 h. Te stes were classified undescended in accordance with Kaplan. The associ ated malformations, the exact levels of the lesion (surgical report) a nd the presence of hydrocephalus and the cremasteric reflex have each been assessed. Results: In these patients a higher incidence of crypto rchidism (14.8%) was found than in the normal population. Lesion level (L2-L3) and absence of cremasteric reflex was higher in children with associated cryptorchidism. Infants with MMC and undescended testes sh owed no increased incidence of hydrocephalus and sexual hormone levels remained within the normal range. These results suggest that the crem aster muscle could be a major factor involved in testis descent throug h the inguinal canal. Conclusions: The authors propose that spinal cor d lesion, as well as neurologic dysfunction, is of major importance in the pathophysiology of cryptorchidism in spina bifida.