Cryptorchidism: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

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Cryptorchidism: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

A 13-year-old male presents to your clinic for an annual well-child visit. His vitals show HR 62 bpm, RR 12 breaths/min, BP 112/72, T 98.6F, SpO2 99%. His history is remarkable cryptorchidism and otitis media infections. You provide patient education about how cryptorchidism increases his risk for cancer. Because of this, the American Urologic Association recommends what sort of screening be done?

A. Yearly testicular ultrasounds
B. Monthly testicular self-examinations
C. Alpha-fetoprotein level monitoring
D. β-hCG level monitoring
E. Referral to urologist for screening at age 21

Answer and topic summary

B. Monthly testicular self-examinations

Cryptorchidism is defined by incomplete or improper descent of one or both testicles (aka undescended testes). On a newborn’s physical exam, there will be a failure to palpate a testis (which may be intra-abdominal or intracanalicular or suprascrotal). The most common location for an undescended testis is just outside the external ring (aka suprascrotal). If spontaneous testicular descent does not occur by 6 months of age, the baby should be referred for surgical intervention. Complications of undescended testes include malignancy, subfertility, and testicular torsion. Therefore, the American Urologic Association suggests that these patients should perform monthly testicular self-examinations during adolescence.

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Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:

Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Genitourinary ⇒Congenital and acquired abnormalities (PEARLS) ⇒ Cryptorchidism

Also covered as part of the Pediatric EOR topic lists