Nishimura Y, et al. – Aim of this study was to verify the frequency and chronological alterations of testicular microlithiasis in isolated congenital undescended testes, retrospective chart review was performed. As per the data, most testicular microlithiasis was distinguished postoperatively and never improved. In addition, the frequency of testicular microlithiasis in isolated congenital undescended testes increased with time even if operated on early in life.

Methods

• Between January 2009 and May 2016, among children with palpable isolated undescended testes who underwent orchiopexy at less than 3 years of age, those who had preoperative testicular ultrasonography were enrolled.
• They categorized testicular microlithiasis as limited or classic.

Results

• They included 65 patients (54 unilateral undescended testes and 11 bilateral undescended testes) were enrolled.
• The evidence suggested that preoperative evaluation demonstrated limited testicular microlithiasis in only 2 undescended testes in 2 patients (1 with unilateral undescended testes and 1 with bilateral undescended testes).
• Among these, 1 with unilateral undescended testes had limited and the other with bilateral undescended testes had bilateral classic testicular microlithiasis after surgery.
• Limited and classic testicular microlithiasis was found in 1 or 6 testes, respectively, during follow–up among 53 unilateral undescended testes without microlithiasis preoperatively.
• They distinguished testicular microlithiasis in 2 on the contralateral descended testis of unilateral undescended testes postoperatively.
• They detected limited testicular microlithiasis in 4 during follow–up among 10 cases with bilateral undescended testes without microlithiasis preoperatively.
• During follow–up, testicular microlithiasis was not diminished or resolved.
• The overall frequency of testicular microlithiasis in undescended testes (21.1%) was significantly higher than that in the contralateral descended testis in patients with unilateral undescended testes (3.7%) (p <0.01).