An unusual case of intra-abdominal testicular torsion: role of laparoscopy

Is Testicular Torsion a Real Problem in Pediatric Patients With Cryptorchidism?

Purpose: To present management and outcomes of patients with cryptorchidism suffering from testicular torsion. Methods: This is a retrospective review of pediatric patients with torsion of undescended testes, who were treated between 2009 and 2019. We recorded: the age, symptoms, duration of torsion, results of physical examination, surgery findings, and additional treatment. Additionally, an extensive online literature search, from 2015-2020, was performed to identify other similar case series. Results: We identified 9 boys with torsion of the undescended gonad, which represented 4.7% of all 192 boys with testicular torsion. The mean age of boys with torsion of undescended testis was 8.7 years. The mean duration of symptoms in our study group was long and it was up to 28.5 h. All patients had inguinal canal exploration. In eight cases, testicular necrosis and primary orchidectomy was performed. Furthermore, 45 cases were identified in the literature and reviewed. Conclusion: According to clinical experience and available studies, torsion of male undescended gonads is a comparatively rare condition. Nevertheless, diagnosis is still delayed and connected with inevitable orchidectomy.

Acute Abdomen Revealing an Unusual Case of Intra-Abdominal Testicular Torsion

Introduction. Intra-abdominal testicular torsion is a rare event. We report hereby our experience of the management of a spermatic cord twist on intra-abdominal testis discovered during an acute surgical abdomen. Case Presentation. This was a 42-year-old patient admitted to the emergency department for abdominal pain that had been evolving for a week. The physical examination showed tenderness and guarding in the left iliac fossa with an empty ipsilateral hemiscrotum. Complementary examinations led to the discovery of an intra-abdominal left-lateral mass. The laparotomy found a whitish mass with areas of infarction, which was resected. Anatomopathological examination of the operative specimen identified it as a testis with atrophy of germ cells and necrotic areas without evidence of malignancy. Conclusion. Intra-abdominal testicular torsion should be considered in case of patients with an acute surgical abdomen with vacuity of one of the bursae.

Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology, Chapter 14. Natural History of Undescended Testes

Cryptorchidism is one of the most frequent problems encountered in pediatric urology. Its causes, associated lesions, and prognosis in terms of fertility have been a source of interest and discrepancies for pediatric pathologists and urological surgeons.