What is cryptorchidism?
Cryptorchidism, i.e., the absence of testicles in the scrotum, is a common disease in children, including incomplete or undulating testicles, absent testicles, and ectopic testicles, of which incomplete testicular decline is the most common. Cryptorchidism, if left untreated, can easily lead to infertility and testicular malignancy. Cryptorchidism has an incidence of about 4% in term infants, mostly unilateral and more common on the right side.
What causes cryptorchidism?
The mechanism of the normal decline of the testicles is not clear, and may be due to a failure of one link in the process of testicular descent or a combination of factors. The causes may be as follows: 1, endocrine theory: associated with reduced secretion of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and low testosterone levels; 2, related tissue development defects or abnormalities 3, for unilateral cryptorchidism, local anatomical mechanical disorders are also important factors in the onset of the disease.
What are the clinical manifestations of cryptorchidism?
The scrotal on the affected side is empty and cannot reach the testicles. On closer examination, about 80% of cryptorchidism is palpable on the surface of the body, mostly in the groin. Despite extensive exploration, the testicles were still not found. If the testicles are not found on one side, called monodchidism or unilateral testicular deletions, the incidence accounts for about 3% to 5% of cryptorchidism. For example, bilateral cryptorchidism has not been found in the testicles through exploration, which is called testicular deformity, and 1 in about 20,000 men has been found. If the touched testicles can be gradually pushed into the scrotum, after releasing the hand, the testicles retract back into the groin, called the sliding testicles, and should still belong to the cryptorchidism. If the testicles can stay in the scrotum after letting go, they are non-cryptorchidism, called retracted testicles.