Laparoscopic Management of Testicular Disorders: Cryptorchidism and Varicocele

Cryptorchidism or undescended testes (UDTs) is the failure of one or both testes to descend from the pararenal embryological origin to the base of the scrotum. If uncorrected, boys with UDT are at a higher risk of infertility and malignancy (Desireddi et al., J Urol 180:1805–8, 2008; Samadi et al., J Endourol 17:365–8, 2003; Heyns CF. J Anat 153:93–112, 1987; Wenzler et al., J Urol 171:849–51, 2004). It is therefore important to identify these patients early and ensure follow-up so that orchiopexy can be performed in a timely manner if spontaneous descent does not occur. Diagnostic laparoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of a non-palpable testis, and the laparoscopic approach for cryptorchidism has replaced the combined inguinal/retroperitoneal open approach.