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A Modified Vessel-Sparing Microsurgical Vasoepididymostomy
Published on: June 8, 2022
Testicular-Epididymal Dissociation: Vas and Vessels May "Lead up the Garden Path"
Eleni Papageorgiou1, Alberto Mantovani1, Elena Monti2
1Department of Paediatric Urology, Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Insights
High bilateral intra-abdominal testes in a 46,XY boy were found despite normal vas deferens and spermatic vessel passage through the inguinal canal. This rare case highlights the need for thorough embryological pathway assessment during diagnostic laparoscopy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Developmental Biology
- Surgical Anatomy
Background:
- Undescended testes are common in pediatric populations.
- The typical pathway of testicular descent involves passage through the inguinal canal.
- An intra-abdominal testis is usually suspected when this pathway is not fully traversed.
Abstract:
The vas deferens and spermatic vessels entering the inguinal canal through the internal inguinal ring is thought to exclude an intra-abdominal testis. We present a case of high bilateral intra-abdominal testes on a 46,XY boy despite the vas deferens and good-sized vessels passing through the deep rings. Data were collected from clinical records, radiology (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), and endocrine blood tests. This case underlines the importance of following the pathway of embryological descent of the testis cranially as well as caudally during diagnostic laparoscopy, to avoid missing this rare anatomical variant.
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