Undescended Testes Growth Potential in Relation to Testis Position from Diagnosis until Puberty

Abstract

Background: Testicular volume (TV) and testicular atrophy index (TAI) were used to determine criteria for normal, hypotrophic and atrophic undescended testes (UDT). Objectives: This study aimed to determine changes in TV and TAI in patients with different types of UDT. Materials and Methods: 182 boys (aged 0.3–14.0 years) with 212 UDTs were assessed twice 24 months apart. Testes were unilateral (UCT) or bilateral canalicular (BCT) and intra-abdominal (IAT). Results: At the beginning of the observation, the highest TAI was observed in IAT and the lowest in the BCT group (38.1 vs. 12.5%, p p p 50%. IATs have the highest testicular growth potential (TGP), while BCTs have the lowest (120.0 vs. 28.6%, p p p p Conclusions: We revealed the continuous growth of UDTs until puberty independently of their position. IATs revealed high growth potential.

Keywords

• undescended testis
• intraabdominal testis
• testicular volume
• testicular atrophy index
• testicular growth potential