Cryptorchidism: An Update

The present issue of European Journal of Pediatric Surgery is dedicated to the testis. Cryptorchidism is the most common congenital anomaly in boys. In more than 80% of cases, cryptorchidism is an isolated problem. The rest is associated to other congenital malformations, chromosomal disorders, and syndromes. However, it is important to realize that the terms cryptorchidism and undescended testes even in isolated cases include a spectrum of a disease complex with a great variety in pathogenesis, pathophysiology, epidemiology, treatment options, and prognosis especially in relation to fertility and risk of developing testicular cancer. Five reviews, written by highly profiled authors within the field of cryptorchidism, are included in this journal issue. They all focus on recent research results published during the past 3 to 5 years related to the accepted knowledge on the field and personal comments by the authors. The advances in understanding normal and abnormal testicular descent, along with what happens to germ cells in descended and undescended testes in comparative animal models and human studies are reviewed in one article. The impact of inheritance, genetics, and environmental factors related to the causes of cryptorchidism is reviewed in another article and one review deals with hormonal aspects in cryptorchidism and the optional hormonal treatment modalities. Two articles review surgical treatment and long-term consequences of cryptorchidism. Within all reviews, significant progression of knowledge on cryptorchidism is demonstrated. Finally, based on the aforementioned recent research and present discrepancies between published guidelines, editorial members in a separate article compare available guidelines and endeavor the need for one common European pediatric surgical guideline on treatment of cryptorchidism.