Testicles: Undescended, Retractile, and Ascended.

The undescended testis in the newborn male is a frequent reason for urological consultation. Spontaneous descent after birth usually happens in the first 3 months of life and is essentially inexistent after 1 year of age. Infertility, malignant transformation, testicular torsion, and hernia are the main consequences associated with cryptorchidism. Surgery should be planned before the child΄s first birthday to decrease the risks of histological changes and to prevent further complications. A proper examination in the office by an experienced clinician establishes the diagnosis. A hormonal evaluation is mandatory if bilateral nonpalpable gonads are encountered. The surgical approach is planned according to the findings of the examination under general anaesthesia at the time of the repair. Preoperative radiological evaluation is not routinely necessary since it does not provide accurate information due to a high rate of false-positive and false-negative studies and does not eliminate the need for surgical exploration. Different surgical techniques may be used with high success rates. Nonetheless, basic principles in testicular mobilization and tissue handling should be respected to avoid complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]