Cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism corresponds to no decrease or partial descent of the testis from the abdomen into the scrotum and the bag, although a relatively common disease, turns out to be, in most cases, resolved spontaneously before 2 years of age.

Causes and Types

The testes are beginning to be formed on early embryonic development in the upper and posterior abdominal cavity near the kidneys, where they initiate, under normal conditions, its descent to the final location, around the third month of intrauterine life -uterine across the gubernaculum testis, fibrous channels that spring from the base of each testicle and furrow the abdominal cavity and the inguinal canals, until they reach the scrotum, a pouch of skin and muscles that receive them and protect throughout life, maintaining them in optimum temperature conditions for them to perform their functions. Cryptorchidism usually caused by a failure in the mechanism of descent of the testis, caused by various circumstances.

In itself called cryptorchidism, one testicle becomes trapped in a tract of gubernaculum testis, particularly in its abdominal portion, the inguinal area or the root of the scrotum. The most common causes of this type of cryptorchidism, also the most common, is a delay in the maturation of the fetus and a deficiency of hormonal stimuli.

Moreover, ectopic testis, less common, one of the two balls is shifted along its descent of gubernaculum testis, normally due to a change in the structure of this channel. Although in these cases the testis deflected lies in the groin, at birth, sometimes, can be moved to other areas, such as the base of the penis, thighs, or the area between the anus and the scrotum.

Treatment

When the problem corresponds to a cryptorchidism itself and proceeds to diagnosis in newborns, must wait a year or two and hope to produce a spontaneous testicular descent. After that time period, if the problem has not been corrected spontaneously, as occurs in most cases, one should proceed with their treatment. The first therapeutic option consists in the administration of hormone products such as chorionic gonadotropin hormone, which can induce testis descent. If this measure is not effective therapy, as occurs in approximately 15% of cases, the only alternative is for performing a surgical procedure called orchidopexy, which consists in fixing the testicle undescended testicles or scrotum. The intervention should be performed early in life, at the latest at 5 or 6 years old, because if done later can provide irreversible testicular damage.

When the problem corresponds to an ectopic testis, the only therapeutic option is surgery.

If the problem involves a single testis and diagnosis is conducted late, when irreversible damage has already been produced in the organ, one must resort to surgical removal to prevent the development of late complications, including the eventual appearance of a malignant tumor.