Early detection of undescended testicles in children for timely treatment

Taking the medical history, the baby's mother said that while accidentally bathing, she discovered that the baby's left scrotum was empty, so she took the baby to Children's Hospital 2 (HCMC). The doctor diagnosed the baby with undescended testicles on the left side and prescribed surgery to move the testicles back to the correct position.

The baby was operated on and discharged the same day at the Department of Day Surgery at Children's Hospital 2. Subsequent follow-up visits showed that the left testicle was in the correct position and developing normally.

On September 17, Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, Deputy Director of Children's Hospital 2, said that undescended testicles (also known as cryptorchidism) is a condition in which one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum after birth. Normally, the testicles move from the abdomen to the scrotum during fetal development. However, in some children, this process is interrupted, leading to the testicles being located in an abnormal position such as the inguinal canal or the abdomen.

During the exam, the doctor will examine the scrotum to determine if there are testicles. If no testicles are felt, the doctor may also examine the groin area to look for them. In some cases, an ultrasound may be used to determine the location of the undescended testicle.

The testicles can descend into the scrotum on their own within the first few months after birth, especially the first 6 months. The doctor can monitor the child's condition and re-evaluate after 6 months, maximum 1 year.

Doctors in a pediatric intervention

Treatment of undescended testicles

According to Dr. Thach, treatment methods for undescended testicles include:

Hormonal treatment: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone can be used to stimulate the testicles to descend into the scrotum. However, this method is not always effective.

Surgery: Orchiopexy is the main treatment for undescended testicles. This surgery is usually performed when the child is 6 to 12 months old. During the surgery, the doctor will lower the testicle into the scrotum and fix it into the proper position.

About laparoscopy: Indicated in cases where the testicles cannot be found during examination. Laparoscopy can determine the exact location of the testicles in the abdomen and bring the testicles down to the scrotum.

"Undescended testicles are a relatively common condition in children. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are important to prevent complications such as infertility, testicular cancer and testicular torsion. If you suspect your child has undescended testicles, take him to a specialist for examination and consultation," Dr. Thach recommended.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phat-hien-som-tinh-hoan-an-o-be-de-kip-thoi-dieu-tri-185240917145230147.htm