Prevalence of acquired undescended testis in 6-, 9-, and 13-year old Dutch schoolboys

Wilfried Hack ^1*, Karlijn Sijstermans ¹, Joke van Dijk ², Laszla van der Voort-Doedens ¹, Monique de Kok ² and Marjolein Hobbelt-Stoker ²

¹ Medical Centre Alkmaar, Netherlands
² Youth Health Care Institution, Netherlands

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: w.hack{at}mca.nl.

Accepted 7 August 2006

Abstract

Objective: A survey of undescended testis (UDT) in Dutch schoolboys was carried out aiming to investigate the prevalence of acquired-UDT.

Design and Participants: As part of routine school medical examinations, during a 2-year period (2001-2003), testis position was determined in 6-, 9-, and 13-year old schoolboys. Before the examination, a parent questionnaire was sent inquiring about the position of both testes and whether the child had been admitted earlier to hospital for orchidopexy (ORP). In 6- and 13-year olds, a physical examination was performed by the school medical officer; in 9-year olds, a school nurse interview was held. Each boy, in whom there was any doubt on a scrotal position was referred to the hospital for examination of both testes.

Setting: Institution for Youth Health Care "Noordkennemerland" and Medical Centre Alkmaar, Alkmaar, the Netherlands.

Results: In 2042 six year olds, 1038 nine year olds and 353 thirteen year olds, testis position was determined. Of them, 47, 53, and 8 respectively were referred to the hospital, and seen for further evaluation. In 25 six year olds, 23 nine year olds, and 4 thirteen year olds, the diagnosis of acquired-UDT was made. In 33 boys, a congenital-UDT was diagnosed, 32 (97%) had already been diagnosed and treated at an early age.

Conclusion: The prevalence of acquired-UDT for 6- , 9-, and 13-year olds was respectively 1,2% (25/2042), 2,2% (23/1038), and 1,1% (4/353). In addition, congenital-UDT is treated during the early years of life and, in contrast to general belief, screening programs for detecting UDT in the early years are successful.

Keywords: acquired undescended testis, congenital undescended testis, cryptorchidism, orchidopexy, prevalence-rate

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