What is the rate of spontaneous testicular descent in infants with cryptorchidism?

Abstract

Purpose: It has been speculated that late spontaneous testicular descent occurs in more than 70% of newborns with cryptorchidism. Based on this belief, the decision for orchiopexy is often deferred during infancy. We reviewed our 10-year experience of treating infants with cryptorchidism to document the rate of spontaneous testicular descent.

Materials and methods: A total of 1,235 patients with cryptorchidism were referred to our pediatric urology clinic between 1990 and 2000. Of these patients 278 presented before age 12 months. The medical records were reviewed explicitly to document the rate of spontaneous testicular descent.

Results: Spontaneous descent occurred in only 6.9% of patients with cryptorchidism reexamined at age 1 year or beyond. All patients with eventual spontaneous descent initially presented by age 6 months. Of those initially presenting beyond age 6 months no patient had spontaneous testicular descent.

Conclusions: Contrary to previous belief, spontaneous testicular descent is uncommon in infants with cryptorchidism and is rare beyond age 6 months.