[Ascensus testis or acquired abnormality of testicular engagement in 14 boys]

We report the cases of 14 boys in whom the testes ascended from the normal scrotal position to an undescended position. In 10 of the patients the testes were fixed in the high position by surrounding adhesions or by a patent processus vaginalis. We advocate that all boys, even those born with normally descended testes, should be examined regularly with respect to the position of the testes until puberty. Especially boys with retractile testes are at risk for secondary ascent of the testis. Acquired ascent of the testes may be a more important reason for orchidopexy than is usually recognised and may explain the relatively large number of orchidopexies performed in boys after toddler age.