Laparoscopic evaluation of non-palpable undescended testis

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the laparoscopic technique as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the management of patients with impalpable testis. During the period from January 2002 to September 2003, sixteen patients with mean age of years underwent laparoscopic to evaluate impalpable testis. Special attention was paid to the value of laparoscope in the diagnosis of these testis, in regards to their presence or absence, quality of the testis and the state of the spermatic vessels and character of the vas deferens. The laparoscope was also used in management after diagnosis. Laparoscopic orchidectomy was performed. Sixteen patients underwent laparoscopy to localize 19 impalpable testis, 13 patients had unilateral disease, while 3 patients had bilateral disease. Six testis were congenitally absent while 13 were atrophic. None were salvageable. All were removed laparoscopically. Histopathological report of the removed testis revealed atrophic testis in all cases. There was no perioperative or postoperative reported complication in all of our 16 patients. Laparoscopy is safe, minimally invasive procedure with low morbidity. It enable precise diagnosis and management of impalpable testis