RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The descriptive epidemiology of congenital and acquired cryptorchidism in a UK infant cohort
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 868
OP 872
DO 10.1136/adc.2008.150219
VO 94
IS 11
A1 C L Acerini
A1 H L Miles
A1 D B Dunger
A1 K K Ong
A1 I A Hughes
YR 2009
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/94/11/868.abstract
AB Introduction: Recent studies in other European countries suggest that the prevalence of congenital cryptorchidism continues to increase. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and natural history of congenital cryptorchidism in a UK centre. Methods: Between October 2001 and July 2008, 784 male infants were born in the prospective Cambridge Baby Growth Study. 742 infants were examined by trained research nurses at birth; testicular position was assessed using standard techniques. Follow-up assessments were completed at ages 3, 12, 18 and 24 months in 615, 462, 393 and 326 infants, respectively. Results: The prevalence of cryptorchidism at birth was 5.9% (95% CI 4.4% to 7.9%). Congenital cryptorchidism was associated with earlier gestational age (p<0.001), lower birth weight (p<0.001), birth length (p<0.001) and shorter penile length at birth (p<0.0001) compared with other infants, but normal size after age 3 months. The prevalence of cryptorchidism declined to 2.4% at 3 months, but unexpectedly rose again to 6.7% at 12 months as a result of new cases. The cumulative incidence of “acquired cryptorchidism” by age 24 months was 7.0% and these cases had shorter penile length during infancy than other infants (p = 0.003). Conclusions: The prevalence of congenital cryptorchidism was higher than earlier estimates in UK populations. Furthermore, this study for the first time describes acquired cryptorchidism or “ascending testis” as a common entity in male infants, which is possibly associated with reduced early postnatal androgen activity.