Laparoscopy in the management of impalpable testis (Series of 64 Cases)

Pre-referral ultrasound for cryptorchidism: Still common, still not necessary

AIM

Evidence-based guidelines do not recommend imaging in cryptorchidism, but anecdotally most referrals include an ultrasound report. We aimed to assess the frequency, utility and burden of imaging in children referred with presumptive disorders of testicular descent, and to assess trends over a 7-year period before and after local and international guidelines have been introduced.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of children referred to the Queensland Children's Hospital for anomalies of testicular descent between 2015-2017 and 2023-2024. Data were collected regarding demographics, referral details, imaging performed and surgical diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 268 children were recruited. Ultrasound frequency has not significantly changed over time (72.8%, 2015-2017; 63.6% 2023-2024; P = 0.11). Currently, 17.6% of families are charged, and 31.9% need to take time off work, for the ultrasound. This is a significant increase from the 2015-2017 cohort. Parents report concern and anxiety, and find it traumatic for their child. Following review, the majority (65.7%) had physiologically normal testes, while 4.9% and 22.4% were diagnosed with bilateral or unilateral cryptorchidism, respectively, and 7.0% had other diagnoses. Ultrasound was concordant with the surgical diagnosis in 25.0% (2015-2017) and 30.7% (2023-2024). Ultrasound did not contribute to diagnosis nor management in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite international and local guidelines, cryptorchid children continue to undergo ultrasound prior to referral. Such ultrasounds do not provide utility, or value for cost. We recommend avoiding their routine use for suspicion of testicular maldescent and working together to improve strategies for translating evidence-based guidelines into clinical practice.

Ultrasound manifestations and clinical features of nonpalpable testis in children

To explore the value of ultrasound in the preoperative diagnosis of nonpalpable testis (NPT) in children. A retrospective study of 254 cases with NPT from May 2017 to December 2021. The preoperative ultrasound examination results were compared with the surgical exploration and pathological results. There were 254 cases (312 testes) NPT has got surgery in our centre. The surgical age were from 6 month to 12 years old, the median age was 2.33 years. There were 103 cases (136 testes) diagnosed as intra-abdominal testis (IAT) by preoperative ultrasound, and 80 cases (103 testes) of extra-abdominal testis (EAT), 71 cases (73 testes) of non-viable testis (NVT). There were 102 cases (135 testes) consistented as IAT by the diagnostic laparoscopy, the preoperative ultrasound's coincidence of IAT was 99.02%. There were 80 cases (103 testes) consistented as EAT by the diagnostic laparoscopy, the preoperative ultrasound's coincidence rate was100%. There were 62 cases (62 testes) consistented as NVT by the diagnostic laparoscopy, there were 9 cases (11 testes) misdiagnosed, the preoperative ultrasound's coincidence rate was 84.9%. Ultrasound can provide valuable information for the preoperative diagnosis of children with nonpalpable testicles, and especially good at identifying the EAT and IAT with normal testicular morphology.

Staged Fowler Stephens, Who Requires a Third Procedure?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The two-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy is a well-described surgical approach for most pediatric urologists tackling the high intra-abdominal testis. Testicular ascent is a well-reported outcome of the surgery and a problem that could be fixed with a repeat procedure. The purpose of this review is to determine the rate of subsequent testicular ascent and repeat surgery after a two-stage Fowler-Stephens using best available evidence.

RECENT FINDINGS/RESULT

We selected 16 studies that pertained to our topic. 0-13% of testicles were deemed to be in an inappropriate position on follow-up (6-37 months). The definition of appropriate postoperative position varied between studies and rates of repeat procedures were sparsely available. Available data reports a repeat orchiopexy rate of 2.6-7.5% after two-stage Fowler-Stephens. Two-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy is a highly successful surgical technique to manage high intra-abdominal testes. Rates of testicular ascent are difficult to ascertain due to varying definitions and small sample sizes. While repeat procedures are typically indicated, the actual rate of repeat orchiopexy is rarely reported and long-term outcomes following a third procedure is sparse.