The Role of the Appendix Testis in Normal Testicular Descent: Is There a Connection?

OBJECTIVE: The presence of testicular appendices was prospectively evaluated in 89 boys with 96 undescended testes who underwent orchidopexy over the period of 4 years. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups. Group A included 42 boys with 49 undescended testes positioned close to the internal inguinal ring, and Group B included 47 boys with 47 undescended testes close to the external inguinal ring. The incidence of appendix testis (AT) in Group A was 57.1% (28 in 49) and 78.7% (37 in 47) in Group B. The results of our study showed significantly decreased incidence of testicular appendices in undescended testes positioned close to the internal inguinal ring compared with undescended testes positioned close to the external inguinal ring (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AT may play a role in normal testicular descent and the undescended testis positioned close to the external inguinal ring can be considered as a separate entity of the true congenital undescended testis.