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Urology (Expert Forum)
ascended testicle
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.
ascended testicle
by Susan-W, Oct 12, 1998 12:00AM
I read the ealier post Feb. '98 on ascending testicle in children. I would like to know more of what procedures are used to correct the problem of the ascended testicle.
Thank you.
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Dear Susan,
I am not sure if you are referring to undescended (common condition) testis or ascended (rare) testis. I will try to answer as if you really mean undescended testis.
Testis originate within the abdominal cavity of the male fetus during the pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses, they slowly descend. By the time of birth, they are usually present in the scrotum. In some cases the normal descent is hampered and testis remains abnormally located above the scrotum or in the abdomen. This condition is called an “undescended testis.” The testis cannot lower its temperature below that of the abdomen and is detrimental to the testicular function as regards sperm production. Abnormally located testis also have higher chance of developing cancer. This cancer may go undetected if testis is hidden in the abdomen.
On the other hand a testis, which is normally descended in to the scrotum at the time of birth, ascends up back into the abdomen. This condition is known as ascended testis. Some of these patients have a patent fold of peritoneum through which the testis goes up. The condition is rare and very few cases are reported in the literature.
Management of both conditions involves prompt recognition, exclusion of associated pathologies and surgical correction and relocation of testis to its normal scrotal position and fixation to the scrotal tissue so as to avoid future ascend. This operation is called as orchiopexy. It should be performed within first year of life so as to minimize any long-term effects on the testis. The increased risk of cancer is not, as we currently understand, changed by this surgery. Hope my response helped you in understanding the condition.
This information is provided for general medical information purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.
The Henry Ford Hospital Department of Urology has experience in the evaluation and treatment of problems such as you describes. They would be most interested in helping you. You can reach us through our toll-free number (1-800-653-6568). We can also arrange local accommodations through this number if this is your need.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-A.T.
*keyword: Undescended testis, ascended testis
