LOCALIZATION AND ASSESSMENT OF PEDIATRIC CRYPTORCHIDISM USING ULTRASOUND

Abstract

Background: Cryptorchidism, the condition where one or both testes fail to descend into the scrotum, is a common pediatric urological disorder. Early diagnosis and accurate localization of undescended testes are crucial for effective management to prevent potential complications such as infertility or testicular torsion. Sonography, including Doppler imaging and echogenicity assessment, is a non-invasive tool that has been gaining prominence in the evaluation of cryptorchidism, offering detailed insights into testicular morphology and vascularity. Objectives: To evaluate the role of sonographic imaging in the localization and assessment of cryptorchidism in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: This study involved 37 pediatric patients diagnosed with cryptorchidism, evaluated using sonography to assess the localization, echogenicity, blood flow, and associated findings in the testes. A cross sectional analysis was conducted, with the data being collected from clinical records and sonographic imaging reports. Results: The data were processed using SPSS version 24.0. Among the 37 patients, 73% reported pain, and 18.9% presented with non-palpable testes. Sonographic localization was successful in 91.9% of cases. A majority (86.5%) had an occupied scrotum, with only 13.5% showing an empty scrotum. Abnormal testicular size was observed in 67.6% of patients. Doppler imaging revealed that 75.7% had normal blood flow, with 24.3% exhibiting absent blood flow, indicating potential viability concerns. Associated findings included edema in 29.7% of cases, testicular torsion in 8.1%, and atrophy in 16.2%. Cross-tabulation revealed that non-palpable testes were linked with normal blood flow and echogenicity, and empty scrotum cases showed normal echogenicity with varying associated findings. Conclusion: Sonographic imaging, including Doppler ultrasound and echogenicity assessment, proves to be an effective tool in the evaluation of cryptorchidism. It facilitates accurate localization of the testes, identifies structural and functional abnormalities, and assists in detecting associated conditions like testicular torsion and atrophy. The findings emphasize the importance of using sonography as a diagnostic tool in pediatric patients with suspected cryptorchidism, guiding treatment decisions and reducing the need for invasive procedures.