Ultrasonography of the undescended testis

Sixty prospective sonographic preoperative examinations were performed on 57 boys, 3 to 12 years of age (mean 6 2/3), in order to investigate the accuracy of the method for localizing undescended or non-palpable testes in the anteperitoneal region, i.e. the inguinal canal. Sonographic results agreed with the findings at surgical exploration in 53 (88%) of the 60 examinations performed which was regarded as a satisfactory result. The method is convenient and valuable for the planning of surgery. Sonograms of patients earlier operated upon were difficult to interpret and accounted for some misinterpretations as did examinations in some patients with divergent anatomy.