Clinical and anatomical features of the primary acquired cryptorchidism

BACKGROUND: The primary acquired cryptorchidism has not yet been adequately addressed in Russian scientific works. Theoretically, the testicle should be palpable in the inguinal region and located intraoperatively outside the inguinal canal. Obliteration of the processus vaginalis should occur after the testicle descents completely. It is expected that the unobliterated processus vaginalis should be significantly less common in patients with acquired cryptorchidism than in boys with a congenital undescended testicle. AIM: To find out clinical and anatomical features of the acquired cryptorchidism in comparison with the congenital undescended testicle. METHODS: The enrolled patients were divided into two groups: a studied group and a control one. The studied group included 22 boys, aged 2–11 years (mean age 7.4 years) with the primary acquired cryptorchidism, These patients were identified during a retrospective analysis of 42,749 electronic outpatient records of boys who were screened at children’s city clinics in Stavropol using our previously described and published technique. The control group consisted of 59 patients, aged 1–17 years (mean age 3.5 years), with an undescended testicle diagnosed at birth who were admitted to the department of pediatric surgery No 1 at Stavropol Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital in 2023. RESULTS: The average age of patients with the primary acquired cryptorchidism was statistically significantly higher (p 0.01) than in the group of children with the congenital undescended testicle: 7.4±1.2 years versus 3.5±0.5 years. Clinically, the undescended testicle was palpable in the inguinal region in boys with the primary acquired cryptorchidism statistically significantly (p 0.01) more often than in the control group: 95.5% of cases (21 patients) vs. 47.5% of cases (28 patients). During the revision of the inguinal region, children with the primary acquired cryptorchidism (95.5%, 21 case) had their testicle located outside the inguinal canal significantly (p 0.01) more often than children with congenital undescended testicle (49.2%, 29 cases). The unobliterated vaginal process of the peritoneum in children of the studied group was seen significantly more often (p 0.01) (21 patients, 95.5%) than in the control group (10.2%, 6 cases). CONCLUSION: The primary acquired cryptorchidism is inguinal ectopia of the testicle in combination with the obliterated vaginal process of the peritoneum.