ESPE Abstracts

Background: Cryptorchidism is a risk factor for testicular cancer and poor semen quality. The incidence of cryptorchidism has been lower in Finland than in the other Nordic countries.

Objective and hypotheses: We focused to investigate the recent trends in the incidence of undescended testes in the Helsinki area. In addition, we evaluated the age at orchidopexy before and after the release of the Nordic consensus in 2007 recommending operation between 6 and 12 months of age (Ritzén ME et al. 2007 Nordic consensus on treatment of undescended testes. Acta Paediatr 96 638–43).

Method: The study material included referrals of boys with unilateral, bilateral or undefined cryptorchidism who were evaluated at Children’s Hospital between 2004 and 2014 (n=1214). Medical records of patients with bilateral cryptorchidism (n=136), who were operated upon, were reviewed to obtain their ages at the time of orchidopexy.

Results: The annual number of referrals for evaluation of cryptorchidism (110±20) remained stable during the evaluation period. Between 2004 and 2007, all bilateral cases (n=38) were operated after the age of 1 year. After 2007, however, 26/98 boys (27%) were operated before the age of 1 year (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The incidence of cryptorchidism, as estimated on the basis of referrals to a tertiary center, has not increased in Helsinki area between 2004 and 2014. The release of the Nordic consensus on treatment of cryptorchidism is associated with an earlier age at operation and conceivably better outcome.