Undescended testicle

Undescended testicle occurs when one or both testicles fail to move into the scrotum before birth.

Also called as Cryptorchidism; Empty scrotum - undescended testes; Scrotum - empty (undescended testes); Monorchism; Vanished testes - undescended; Retractile testes

Causes

Most of the time, a boy’s testicles descend by the time he is 9 months old. Undescended testicles are fairly common in infants who are born early. The problem occurs less often in full-term infants.

Some babies have a condition called retractile testes and the health care provider may not be able find the testicles. In this case, the testicle is normal but is pulled back out of the scrotum by a muscle reflex. This is able to occur because the testicles are still small before puberty. The testicles will descend normally at puberty and surgery is not needed.

Testicles that do not naturally descend into the scrotum are considered abnormal. An undescended testicle is more likely to develop cancer, even if it is brought into the scrotum with surgery. Cancer is also more likely in the other testicle.

Bringing the testicle into the scrotum can improve sperm production and increase the chances of good fertility. It also allows the health care provider to do an exam for the early detection of cancer.

In other cases, no testicle may be found, even during surgery. This may be due to a problem that occurred while the baby was still developing before birth.

Symptoms

Most of the time there are no symptoms other than the absence of the testicle in the scrotum. (This is called an empty scrotum.)

Exams and Tests

An exam by the health care provider confirms that one or both of the testicles are not in the scrotum.

The health care provider may or may not be able to feel the undescended testicle in the abdominal wall above the scrotum.

Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, may be done.

 

Possible Complications

·         Damage to the testicle from surgery Infertility later in life

·         Testicular cancer in both testes

Treatment

In most cases, the testicle will descend without treatment during the child’s first year. If this does not occur, treatment may include:

·         Hormone injections (B-HCG or testosterone) to try to bring the testicle into the scrotum

·         Surgery (orchiopexy) to bring the testicle into the scrotum. This is the main treatment.

ARTERIAL EMBOLISM

An embolus is a blood clot, bit of tissue or tumor, gas bubble or other foreign body that circulate in the blood stream until it becomes struck in the blood vessels. When the blood clot develops in the artery and remains there it is called as thrombosis. If All or a part of the blockage breaks away and lodges in another part of the artery it is called as embolism.

An embolus can affect any part of the body. The most common site is leg and feet. When the brain is affected it is called stroke. When the heart is involved it is called heart attack or myocardial infarction.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

·       Artery whose lining has thickened due to ageing allows cholesterol to build up easily.

·       Due to fat cells that enter the blood stream after a major bone fracture

·       Cancer cells that enter the blood stream.

Symptoms may begin suddenly or may take time.

·       If it is in arm or leg there will be muscle pain, numbness and tingling.

·       Pale skin color, lower temperature in limb.

·       Weakness, loss of muscle function.

·       If it occurs in the internal organ then there will be loss of the organ functions.

DIAGNOSIS

·       ECG

·       NON INVASIVE VASCULAR TEST(measures blood pressure from various part an compares it)

·       ANGIOGRAPHY (a colored liquid material is injected into the blood stream and which could be seen with X-rays)

TREATMENT

·       Medications

·       Surgery

Medication to dissolve the clot immediately is given to the affected artery. If embolus is caused by a blood clot then medication to thin the blood will be the right choice of the medication.  

                           

 A surgeon can treat by removing the embolism by marking an incision in the artery above the blockade. In severe cases bypass grafting is done.

PREVENTION

·       Low cholesterol diet

·       Medication to thin blood

·       Active and healthy lifestyle.