Epididymal abnormalities associated with undescended testis

ABSTRACT

To identify and record the number and type of epididymal abnormalities [EA] associated with undescended testis and its correlation with the location of the testis. Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital, Karachi Patients And All patients with undescended testis operated in this unit from September. 1997 to October 2003 were included. Clinical data and surgical findings were recorded. A new method of classification for the anomalies was employed to make comparison between various studies easy and meaningful. A total of 107 testes in 97 patients were operated. Epididymal anomalies were found with 37 testes. Obstructive anomalies were found with 19 testes and non obstructive anomalies were found with 18 testes. Obstructive anomalies were more frequent with the testes located high up in the inguinal canal or intra-abdominally. Undescended testes that are non-palpable and located high up are more likely to have associated epididymal anomalies causing obstruction to the sperm conducting pathway