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Pathology | Testis I - [click on image(s) below]

Anorchidism

  1. Monorchidism: one testis is absent,
    Usually the left testis is absent and the remaining one undergoes compensatory hypertrophy. Hormonal patterns remain normal; histologically, the diagnosis is made by finding blindly-ending spermatic vessels. If hypoplastic epididymis is seen, the diagnosis cannot be made.
  2. Testicular regression syndrome: both testes absent; several etiologies
    1. True agonadism (46 XY gonadal agenesis syndrome): ambiguous genitalia (shown in photograph at right); regression occurs at 8-12 weeks gestation
    2. Rudimentary testes syndrome: normal male phenotype with small cryptorchid tests; regression occurs at 14-20 weeks gestation
    3. Congenital bilateral anorchidism: normal external male genitalia; regression after 20 weeks gestation
    4. Vanishing testes syndrome: patients develop hypergonadotropic hypogonadism after puberty with infantile phallus, hypoplastic scrotum, and impalpable prostate (shown); regression between birth and puberty
    5. Leydig cell only syndrome: patients are anorchid but not eunuchoid, due to clusters of Leydig cells producing testosterone