Is a Testis Located at the Superficial Inguinal Pouch (Denis Browne Pouch) Comparable to a True Cryptorchid Testis?

ABSTRACT

In a clinical study 96 prepubertal boys with 100 testes located in the superficial inguinal pouch underwent routine orchiopexy. Of 65 patients 45 (69%) who had received hormonal treatment before the surgical procedure had a closed processus vaginalis compared with only 11 of 35 (31%) who had not (p <0.0002). A normal epididymis was also present significantly more often in those patients receiving hormonal treatment than in those who did not (p <0.039). While those testes located in the superficial inguinal pouch had significantly better histology and a greater number of germ cells than those located in a high inguinal or abdominal position (p <0.01), the number of germ cells per tubule was nonetheless lower than that seen in the normal controls (p <0.01). In conclusion, a testis located at the superficial inguinal pouch behaves as a true cryptorchid testis. Furthermore, hormonal treatment before surgery has a significant effect on epididymal development and closure of the processus vaginalis.