Fibrosis correlates with detailed histological analysis of human undescended testes

To evaluate whether semiquantitatively assessing the histological degree of fibrosis provides equivalent information to a detailed histological analysis of undescended testes in children.

We reviewed retrospectively the histological and clinical data from 86 consecutive orchidopexies. Biopsies fixed in Bouin's solution were evaluated histologically for tubular diameter, germ cell number and fibrosis. Fibrosis was assessed semiquantitatively by a pathologist reviewing sections stained with Masson's trichrome. The median (range) age of the patients was 1.9 (0.5-13.5) years, with 29 aged <1 year and 57 aged >1 year.

There were 65 palpable and 21 impalpable testes; 62 were inguinal and 13 were intra-abdominal. Testicular biopsies showed smaller tubules and fewer germ cells in patients aged >1 year, but there were no significant differences based on the location of the testis on physical examination or at the time of operation. The amount of fibrosis correlated well with tubular diameter and germ cell counts.

Fibrosis can be assessed easily and correlates well with more complex forms of histological evaluation of testicular health in children.