HISTOLOGIC CHARACTER OF THE UNDESCENDED TESTIS AFTER PUBERTY

Abstract

The purposes of this paper are (a) to make a histologic study of the undescended testis in order to arrive at a better concept of the histologic character of the testis at various ages, (b) to determine how long enough of the germinal epithelium survives to justify orchiopexy and (c) to correlate this histologic and clinical knowledge in an attempt to formulate a rational plan of treatment for older cryptorchids. The histology of the prepubertal testis has been discussed in detail elsewhere;¹ suffice it to say here that up to puberty there are no differences discernible grossly or microscopically between the normally descended and the undescended testis. Concerning the histologic character of the postpubertal ectopic gonad there have been but few reports. Maréchal,² Rawlings,³ Vidal⁴ and Burghard⁵ expressed their opinion that in the majority of cases the postpubertal retained testis is capable of spermatogenesis. On