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Laparoscopy was performed at operation in 32 patients between 7 and 63 months old (average age 31 months), who had 33 nonpalpable testes. Of the testes 7 (21.2 per cent) were in the inguinal region or just proximal to the internal ring, 5 (15.2 per cent) were in a high intra-abdominal position and 21 (63.6 per cent) were absent. In every instance of a nonpalpable gonad in which a testis was found to be absent at operation the vas and gonadal vessels were observed laparoscopically to exit the inguinal ring or to end blindly just proximal to the internal inguinal ring. A hernia or patent processus vaginalis was not observed in these 21 cases. In every case of an absent testis the contralateral testis was located normally in the scrotum. Furthermore, when a hernia was observed laparoscopically a testis was found on the ipsilateral side at the level of the internal ring or more distally.