Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · European J Pediatr Surg Rep. 2022; 10(01): e80-e83
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1747671
Case Report

Continuous Hepatogonodal and Splenogonogal Fusion: A Rare Cause of Bilateral Intra-Abdominal Testis in an 18-Month-Old Boy

Gül Durmuş
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
,
Ozlem Boybeyi-Turer 
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
,
Hatice Nursun Özcan
2   Department of Pediatric Radiology, Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
,
Onur Gözmen
3   Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
,
Hüseyin Demirbilek
3   Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
,
Tutku Soyer 
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The fusion of gonadal structures with internal organs is very rare. The close proximity between the left gonad and spleen during embryogenesis may result in splenogonadal fusion (SGF). Moreover, the trapping of hepatocyte-destined mesenchyme cells in gonads is defined as hepatogonadal fusion (HGF). The fusion of gonads with intra-abdominal organs may be continuous and may impair testicular descent during the prenatal period. We herein report an 18-month-old boy presented with bilateral nonpalpable testis due to concomitant continuous HGF and SGF. To our knowledge, this is the first case of concomitant HGF and SGF in a boy with bilateral intra-abdominal testis. Laparoscopic excision of fibrous cords and orchidopexy can be achieved despite continuous fusions.

Keywords

hepatogonadal fusion - splenogonadal fusion - undescended testis


Publication History

Received: 04 October 2021

Accepted: 02 March 2022

Article published online:
25 June 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Cortes D, Thorup JM, Visfeldt J. The pathogenesis of cryptorchidism and splenogonadal fusion: a new hypothesis. Br J Urol 1996; 77 (02) 285-290
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Bostroem E. Demonstration of a specimen of fused spleen with left testicle. Society of German natural scientists and physicians negotiations of the 56th assembly. Freiburg; 1883: 14
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Putschar WG, Manion WC. Splenogonadal fusion. Am J Pathol 1956; 32 (01) 15-33
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Werdham H, Kumar A, Jain N. et al. Splenogonodal fusion: case report and review of the literature. Pediatr Surg Int 1993; 8: 58-59
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Ferro F, Lais A, Boldrini R, De Peppo F, Federici G, Bosman C. Hepatogonadal fusion. J Pediatr Surg 1996; 31 (03) 435-436
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Lund JM, Bouhadiba N, Sams V, Tsang T. Hepato-testicular fusion: an unusual case of undescended testes. BJU Int 2001; 88 (04) 439-440
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Fan R, Faught PR, Sun J, Meldrum KK. Hepatogonadal fusion. J Pediatr Surg 2012; 47 (02) e5-e6
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 El-koutby M, ElJalby M. Hepatogonadal fusion in cryptorchidism. J Pediatr Surg Case Rep 2018; 34: 4-6
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Al-Saied G, Ibrahim M, Al-Nefaei S, Thabet R, Mohamed A. Hepato-testicular fusion: a rare case of undescended testis. J Pediatr Surg Case Rep 2016; 4: 35-37
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Chen SL, Kao YL, Sun HS, Lin WL. Splenogonadal fusion. J Formos Med Assoc 2008; 107 (11) 892-895
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Le Roux PJ, Heddle RM. Splenogonadal fusion: is the accepted classification system accurate?. BJU Int 2000; 85 (01) 114-115
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Khairat ABM, Ismail AM. Splenogonadal fusion: case presentation and literature review. J Pediatr Surg 2005; 40 (08) 1357-1360
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Gouw AS, Elema JD, Bink-Boelkens MT, de Jongh HJ, ten Kate LP. The spectrum of splenogonadal fusion. Case report and review of 84 reported cases. Eur J Pediatr 1985; 144 (04) 316-323
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Steinmetz AP, Rappaport A, Nikolov G, Priel IE, Chamovitz DL, Dolev E. Splenogonadal fusion diagnosed by spleen scintigraphy. J Nucl Med 1997; 38 (07) 1153-1155
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Shehata S, Shalaby R, Ismail M, Abouheba M, Elrouby A. Staged laparoscopic traction-orchiopexy for intraabdominal testis (Shehata technique): stretching the limits for preservation of testicular vasculature. J Pediatr Surg 2016; 51 (02) 211-215
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar