A history of cryptorchidism: lessons from the eighteenth century

John Hunter in 1786 opened the door to more than 200 years of study and discussion of the cryptorchid testis. We review the history that has brought us to our current surgical treatment of this condition.

We performed a review of the medical and historical surgical literature pertaining to cryptorchidism.

The study of cryptorchidism began with the anatomical descriptions of Baron Albrecht von Haller and John Hunter. Attempts at surgical correction of the undescended testis began in the early 1800s, culminating in the first successful orchidopexy by Thomas Annandale in 1877. Further contributions to the surgical technique include: (1) Arthur Dean Bevan's division of the processus vaginalis to prevent reascent and his stress on the importance of adequate mobilization of the spermatic cord, (2) the description by Robert Prentiss of surgical triangles which allowed for mobilization of the spermatic cord and placement of the testis into the scrotum without tension, and (3) Lattimer's subdartos pouch.

Our understanding and the surgical treatment of cryptorchidism have continued to evolve over the last 200 years. A study of the history of surgical management of the undescended testis sheds light on the rationale behind current management.