Undescended testis and the presence of concurrent inguinal hernia: A review

Cryptorchidism is defined as testes nonpalpabl in thescrotum. And they are generally undescended or aplastic.Cryptorchidism usually occurs among infants withcongenital disorders and most cryptorchidic testicles areundescended. Between 2% and 5% of full-term and 30%of premature male infants are born with an undescendedtesticle. Approximately 10% of undescended testicle is bilateraland the most common location is just outside theexternal inguinal ring.Inguinal hernia that is characterized as patent prosesusvaginalis (PV) is the most common seen pathology concomitantto undescended testes. Primary inguinal herniais present 1-5% of all infants. But this ratio rises up to9-11% of premature babies. The patients are usually asymptomaticand the treatment needs surgical procedures.If urgent surgery is needed for incarcerated or strangulatedinguinal hernia, orchiopexy procedure should be madetogether. In other conditions inguinal hernia requirementmust be done during routine orchiopexy. The inguinalhernia with untreated undescended testes which is occultmay become symptomatic or complicated such as incarcerationor strangulation at any time.The incidence of inguinal hernia in the patients with undescendedtestes is controversial that different rates arereported in different series. According to our review of theliterature, we determined that the rate of inguinal herniaand patent PV accompanying to undescended testes is20% and 50%, respectively.Key words: Cryptorchidism, Inguinal hernia.