ABSTRACT

The most common genital anomaly of boys is undescended testis and its frequency is below 1% at the age of 1. The relative risk (RR) of testicular cancer in cryptorchid testes varies between 4 and 5.7. Approximately 10 percent of testicular tumors occur in patients with a history of undescended testicle. 1.1% of these cases were observed in the contralateral testis. Patients who have undergone post-pubertal orchidopexy have a 3.5 fold greater risk of developing testicular cancer when compared to prepubertal patients. Orchidopexy should be performed to all patients younger than 11-12 due to the low RR. Orchiectomy should be the choice of management in patients between the age 12 and 50 with unilateral undescended testis. After the age of 50 follow-up should be offered to patients since the risk of anesthesia outweighs the risk of malign degeneration. Orchidopexy or follow-up should be offered to patients with solitary testicle and undescended testis or bilateral undescended testis after the age of 10-12.