Magnetic resonance angiography for the nonpalpable testis: a cost and cancer risk analysis

For the unilateral nonpalpable testis standard management is open surgical or laparoscopic exploration. An ideal imaging technique would reliably identify testicular nubbins and safely allow children to forgo surgical exploration without compromising future health or fertility. Our goal was to perform a cost and risk analysis of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for unilateral nonpalpable cryptorchid testes.

A search of the English medical literature revealed 3 studies addressing the usefulness of MRA for the nonpalpable testicle. We performed a meta-analysis and applied the results to a hypothetical set of patients using historical testicular localization data. Analysis was then performed using 3 different management protocols-MRA with removal of testicular nubbin tissue, MRA with observation of testicular nubbin tissue and diagnostic laparoscopy. A cancer risk and cost analysis was then performed.

MRA with observation of testicular nubbin tissue results in 29% of patients avoiding surgery without any increased cost of care. Among the 29% of boys with testicular nubbins left in situ and observed the highest estimated risk was 1 in 300 of cancer developing, and 1 in 5,300 of dying of cancer.

A protocol using MRA with observation of inguinal nubbins results in nearly a third of boys avoiding surgical intervention at a similar cost to standard care without any significant increased risk of development of testis cancer.