Gross and Microscopic Changes among Cryptorchid Testes at Different Locations- a Prospective Study in North Kashmir

Shiekh Mahmood Rashid; Tajamul Hassan; Shiekh Aamir Rashid

Authors

Shiekh Mahmood Rashid M.S. (General Surgery), Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Govt. Medical College, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir (India) – 193101.
Tajamul Hassan M.S. (General Surgery), Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Govt. Medical College, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir (India) – 193101.
Shiekh Aamir Rashid MBBS, Postgraduate Scholar, Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (India)-190019.

Abstract

Background: Cryptorchidism or undescended testes is a commonly observed congenital anomaly of male children seen in patients presenting in general and pediatric surgical practice of our region. In this study, we prospectively studied 146 cases of undescended testes to statistically observe gross and microscopic changes in different such cases.

Objective: To study the gross and microscopic changes in cryptorchid testes at varied locations.

Methods: A hospital-based prospective study of 146 cases of undescended testes was done from November 2014 to December 2019 and the results of gross and microscopic changes in biopsy specimens were statistically analyzed.

Results: A total of 146 cases studied included 45.19% presenting at the age of 4 to 8 years and 25.34% presenting at the age of 8 to 14 years. The study revealed mild testicular atrophy in 6.16% of the cases and moderate to severe atrophy in 36.97%. Epididymal and vassal anomalies were very rare in suprascrotal testes but common in high cryptorchid testes. Biopsy specimens showed the incidence of seminomas in 4.79% of intra-abdominal testes but the incidence was lesser in undescended testes at locations lower down.

Conclusion: A strong association was observed between the location of cryptorchid testes and observed gross and microscopic changes including malignant transformation.