LAPAROSCOPIC GONADECTOMY IN MALE PSEUDOHERMAPHRODITES

Objective: To study patients of male pseudohermaphroditism and establi sh the laparoscopic approach for gonadectomy in these cases. Study des ign: Seven phenotypic females with XY karyotype were evaluated through a diagnostic protocol which included clinical, cytogenetic, hormonal, endoscopic and histologic evaluation. The gonads were then removed by laparoscopic surgery. Results: The seven patients included three pati ents of pure gonadal dysgenesis, two patients of testicular feminizati on and one patient each of mixed gonadal dysgenesis and dysgenetic mal e pseudohermaphroditism. Two of the seven patients (28.57%) had gonada l neoplasias on histopathology-one dysgerminoma and one occult seminom a. In all of these patients, removal of the gonads was accomplished la paroscopically. No complications occurred during any of the surgeries. Conclusion: Due to the reduced morbidity, shorter hospital stay and s afety, laparoscopic gonadectomy can be considered the treatment of cho ice for the removal of gonads in male pseudohermaphrodites in the hand s of experienced laparoscopic surgeons. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Irel and Ltd. All rights reserved.