Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Urology (Expert Forum)
Disappearance of Testicle after Surgery
Questions in the Urology forum are answered by Dr. Stephen Liroff, affiliated with the Henry Ford Hospital. Topics covered include benign prostate disease, penis curvature, cystisis, kidney stones, pediatric urology, prostate, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections (UTI), and urological cancers.
Disappearance of Testicle after Surgery
by debra, Aug 22, 1999 12:00AM
My son was born with an undescended testicle. At 5 monthes old he had the surgery. He is now 9 months old and went for a follow up visit with the urologist who performed the surgery. The surgeon could not find the testicle, however he found a small hard ball at the bottom of the scrotum which he did not think was the testicle. He said the disapearance of the testicle may be due to atrophy. He didn't want to see my son again for another 6 monthes.
I was never told at the time of surgery that the testicle appeared abnormal in any way. Is there a chance the testicle may have retracted and it can still function normally? Should I wait 6 monthes before another examination? Also if the testicle wasted away, is there a chance that it had something to do with the surgery? And is there still an incresed risk for testicular cancer? Also, are there any precautions that should be taken to protect the other testicle? Are there any tests, such as an ultrasound, that can shed any light on whats going on?
I was never told at the time of surgery that the testicle appeared abnormal in any way. Is there a chance the testicle may have retracted and it can still function normally? Should I wait 6 monthes before another examination? Also if the testicle wasted away, is there a chance that it had something to do with the surgery? And is there still an incresed risk for testicular cancer? Also, are there any precautions that should be taken to protect the other testicle? Are there any tests, such as an ultrasound, that can shed any light on whats going on?
Doctor's Answer
by hfhs M.D.-AK, Sep 02, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Debora,
The most common complication of orchidopexy is probably testicular retraction. In one series of 336 orchidopexies, 10 or 3.4% had a testis that was high riding in the scrotum. Of these, only three required a second operation. Other potential complications are testicular atrophy, transection of the Vas deferens, direct inguinal hernia, indirect hernia or hydrocele, and wound infection. The transection of the testicular artery usually results in atrophy.
I was not at your son’s surgery nor do I know all the complex issues that are a part of most surgical procedures. If your son had a abdominal testis or an ectopic testis, mobilization to gain sufficient lenght to bring down the testis may require division of the testicular artery. I am unable to examine your son so I can’t comment on the position of the testis.
Yes, a testicular ultrasound would determine the position of the testis, but a good exam by your urologist performining the surgery would sufice. Nothing is going to happen to the testicle that hasn’t already happened in the next six months, so a follow-up in this time is reasonable.
Men with a history of cryporchidism have an increased incidence of infertility. Those with unilateral orchidopexy have a 65 to 80% paternity rate where as those with bilateral surgery have a 50 to 60% paterity rate.
In reguards to testicular cancer, patients with undescended testicles are at a higher risk for the disease, this is why the testis is brought into a position where it can be examined more easily. I think your doctor is doing everything correct and by the book, a follow-up in 6 months is appropriate.
Protection of the testis should be performed as one would protect two testis. I think your judement is sufficient in this case.
The information provided in this forum is presented for general educational purposes only. Specific questions you have pertaining to your health should always be directed to your personal physician.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-AK
*keyword:Undescended testis
The most common complication of orchidopexy is probably testicular retraction. In one series of 336 orchidopexies, 10 or 3.4% had a testis that was high riding in the scrotum. Of these, only three required a second operation. Other potential complications are testicular atrophy, transection of the Vas deferens, direct inguinal hernia, indirect hernia or hydrocele, and wound infection. The transection of the testicular artery usually results in atrophy.
I was not at your son’s surgery nor do I know all the complex issues that are a part of most surgical procedures. If your son had a abdominal testis or an ectopic testis, mobilization to gain sufficient lenght to bring down the testis may require division of the testicular artery. I am unable to examine your son so I can’t comment on the position of the testis.
Yes, a testicular ultrasound would determine the position of the testis, but a good exam by your urologist performining the surgery would sufice. Nothing is going to happen to the testicle that hasn’t already happened in the next six months, so a follow-up in this time is reasonable.
Men with a history of cryporchidism have an increased incidence of infertility. Those with unilateral orchidopexy have a 65 to 80% paternity rate where as those with bilateral surgery have a 50 to 60% paterity rate.
In reguards to testicular cancer, patients with undescended testicles are at a higher risk for the disease, this is why the testis is brought into a position where it can be examined more easily. I think your doctor is doing everything correct and by the book, a follow-up in 6 months is appropriate.
Protection of the testis should be performed as one would protect two testis. I think your judement is sufficient in this case.
The information provided in this forum is presented for general educational purposes only. Specific questions you have pertaining to your health should always be directed to your personal physician.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-AK
*keyword:Undescended testis
