Borderline testicular disease in children: What is the preferred surgical management?

Introduction: Management of a small testis in a child is a controversial subject. Since there are no international guidelines or at least no consensus on the treatment of this condition, there is a diverse spectrum of opinion on its management. Purpose: The two objectives of this study are (1) to id...

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Main Authors: Ornella Betzabe Grijalva Estrada, Verónica Vargas Cruz, Alvaro Escassi Gil, María Camila Suarez Arbeláez, Rosa María Paredes Esteban, Alberto Parente Hernandez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-10-01
Series:Journal of Pediatric Surgery Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949711623000370
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author Ornella Betzabe Grijalva Estrada
Verónica Vargas Cruz
Alvaro Escassi Gil
María Camila Suarez Arbeláez
Rosa María Paredes Esteban
Alberto Parente Hernandez
author_facet Ornella Betzabe Grijalva Estrada
Verónica Vargas Cruz
Alvaro Escassi Gil
María Camila Suarez Arbeláez
Rosa María Paredes Esteban
Alberto Parente Hernandez
author_sort Ornella Betzabe Grijalva Estrada
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Management of a small testis in a child is a controversial subject. Since there are no international guidelines or at least no consensus on the treatment of this condition, there is a diverse spectrum of opinion on its management. Purpose: The two objectives of this study are (1) to identify the surgeons’ preferred treatment protocol of a small testis in the pediatric patient, and (2) to determine whether the treatment of choice is influenced by the specialty of the surgeon. Materials and methods: Relevant clinical information about 5 pediatric cases was contained in a survey distributed by means of social-media and e-mails to both qualified and in-training residents practicing surgery in the urological and pediatric disciplines. An additional requirement was that the participants should have or have had regular practice in pediatric urology surgery. The chi-square-test was used in order to compare the preferred treatment protocols between the pediatric urologist practicing surgery and the pediatric surgeons. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: One hundred and fifty [150] surgeons from 14 countries responded to the survey, of which 67.3% were pediatric urologists practicing surgery, 22.7% pediatric surgeons, 8.7% pediatric surgery residents, and 1.3% adult urologists.The only significant difference was observed in case #4, in which 43% of pediatric surgeons would do an orchiectomy while only 25% of pediatric urologists practicing surgery would follow this management (p = 0.007). In the other cases no significant difference was observed between surgeons practicing in the pediatric discipline and those practicing in the urological discipline. Conclusions: Treatment of borderline testicular disease varies depending on the discipline of the surgical professional whom is consulted. Nevertheless, there is not a significant difference between choices made by the pediatric urologist practicing surgery and the pediatric surgeon, apart from in the treatment of secondary testicular torsion after orchidopexy. This survey reveals that there is no single correct treatment choice of borderline testicular disease in a child. Each participant of this survey could justify their preferred treatment. It is always important to individualize the handling in each case.
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spelling doaj.art-8d2877bbba8e4350bf69e2bb4433d0902023-08-12T04:35:19ZengElsevierJournal of Pediatric Surgery Open2949-71162023-10-013100039Borderline testicular disease in children: What is the preferred surgical management?Ornella Betzabe Grijalva Estrada0Verónica Vargas Cruz1Alvaro Escassi Gil2María Camila Suarez Arbeláez3Rosa María Paredes Esteban4Alberto Parente Hernandez5Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Pediatric Surgery Menedez Pidal s/n Cordoba, Spain; Corresponding author.Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Pediatric Urology Cordoba, SpainHospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Pediatric Urology Cordoba, SpainNicklaus Children's Hospital, Pediatric Urology Miami, United StatesHospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Pediatric Surgery Menedez Pidal s/n Cordoba, SpainHospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Pediatric Urology Cordoba, SpainIntroduction: Management of a small testis in a child is a controversial subject. Since there are no international guidelines or at least no consensus on the treatment of this condition, there is a diverse spectrum of opinion on its management. Purpose: The two objectives of this study are (1) to identify the surgeons’ preferred treatment protocol of a small testis in the pediatric patient, and (2) to determine whether the treatment of choice is influenced by the specialty of the surgeon. Materials and methods: Relevant clinical information about 5 pediatric cases was contained in a survey distributed by means of social-media and e-mails to both qualified and in-training residents practicing surgery in the urological and pediatric disciplines. An additional requirement was that the participants should have or have had regular practice in pediatric urology surgery. The chi-square-test was used in order to compare the preferred treatment protocols between the pediatric urologist practicing surgery and the pediatric surgeons. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: One hundred and fifty [150] surgeons from 14 countries responded to the survey, of which 67.3% were pediatric urologists practicing surgery, 22.7% pediatric surgeons, 8.7% pediatric surgery residents, and 1.3% adult urologists.The only significant difference was observed in case #4, in which 43% of pediatric surgeons would do an orchiectomy while only 25% of pediatric urologists practicing surgery would follow this management (p = 0.007). In the other cases no significant difference was observed between surgeons practicing in the pediatric discipline and those practicing in the urological discipline. Conclusions: Treatment of borderline testicular disease varies depending on the discipline of the surgical professional whom is consulted. Nevertheless, there is not a significant difference between choices made by the pediatric urologist practicing surgery and the pediatric surgeon, apart from in the treatment of secondary testicular torsion after orchidopexy. This survey reveals that there is no single correct treatment choice of borderline testicular disease in a child. Each participant of this survey could justify their preferred treatment. It is always important to individualize the handling in each case.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949711623000370Borderline testicular diseaseCryptorchidismTesticular atrophySmall testisContralateral orchidopexy
spellingShingle Ornella Betzabe Grijalva Estrada
Verónica Vargas Cruz
Alvaro Escassi Gil
María Camila Suarez Arbeláez
Rosa María Paredes Esteban
Alberto Parente Hernandez
Borderline testicular disease in children: What is the preferred surgical management?
Journal of Pediatric Surgery Open
Borderline testicular disease
Cryptorchidism
Testicular atrophy
Small testis
Contralateral orchidopexy
title Borderline testicular disease in children: What is the preferred surgical management?
title_full Borderline testicular disease in children: What is the preferred surgical management?
title_fullStr Borderline testicular disease in children: What is the preferred surgical management?
title_full_unstemmed Borderline testicular disease in children: What is the preferred surgical management?
title_short Borderline testicular disease in children: What is the preferred surgical management?
title_sort borderline testicular disease in children what is the preferred surgical management
topic Borderline testicular disease
Cryptorchidism
Testicular atrophy
Small testis
Contralateral orchidopexy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949711623000370
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