pediatrics
Cryptorchidism
Symptoms and Signs of Cryptorchidism
In about 80% of cases, the scrotum on the affected side is empty at birth; in the remainder of cases, a testis is palpable in the scrotum at birth but appears to ascend with linear growth because of an ectopic gubernacular attachment that restrains it from following the normal “descent” of the scrotum. Inguinal hernia associated with cryptorchidism is rarely symptomatic, but the patent process is often detectable, especially in infants (but less commonly in those with ectopic undescended testes). Rarely, an undescended testis manifests acutely because of testicular torsion. 