Absent testes in scrotum or empty scrotum (Undescended Testes/ Cryptorchidism)

• Absence of either testis from its normal position in scrotum is called undescended testis.
• It is most common congenital abnormality found in male genitalia.

Classification

• Congenital – Undescended testis present since birth
• Acquired – testis which has migrated up that has been previously noted to be present in scrotum
• Location wise – Inguinal (groin), Intra-abdominal, Ectopic (not in path of normal descent)

Causes of undescended testis

• Developmental disorder of the gonads by either environment or genetic factors.
• Maternal smoking
• Premature birth

Effects of undescended testes

• Undescended testis of one side can affect the function of normally descended other testis also.
• Impaired semen parameters
• Impaired fertility
• Hypogonadism (testosterone deficiency)
• Tumors in the undescended testis

Treatment

• Surgical treatment is mainstay of management.
• In infants and early age, surgical correction with bringing testis down into scrotum is done.
• In adults with intra-abdominal testis, and having normal opposite testis, orchiectomy is usually considered. However if both testes are intra-abdominal, surgical correction to bring testes down into scrotum is considered.