[Seminal duct abnormalities in cryptorchism: our experience with 334 cases]

Abstract

Undescended testis is one of the most common anomalies in pediatric age; despite numerous theories offered to explain its etiology, the true mechanism of the anomaly seems not to have been fully elucidated. The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the incidence of epididymal abnormalities in undescended testes, the potential role of these anomalies in testicular descent and in incidental infertility. All patients were submitted to orchidopexy during which the complete anatomical situation of the epididymis and vas deferens was detected. In a group of 334 testes the incidence of congenital defects was 68%. The severity of these abnormalities appeared to be strictly correlated to the level of undescended testis. The incidence was 85% when the testis was in the abdomen, 82% when in the inguinal canal, 63% when next to the external inguinal ring and 53% when the testis was ectopic. The epididymal detachment at the head was the most common anomaly (113 cases), followed by extended epididymis (91 cases) and by total detachment of epididymis from the testis (70 cases).