Testicular–Epididymal Dissociation: Vas and Vessels May “Lead up the Garden Path”

Abstract

The vas deferens and spermatic vessels entering the inguinal canal through the internal inguinal ring is thought to exclude an intra-abdominal testis. We present a case of high bilateral intra-abdominal testes on a 46,XY boy despite the vas deferens and good-sized vessels passing through the deep rings.

Data were collected from clinical records, radiology (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), and endocrine blood tests.

This case underlines the importance of following the pathway of embryological descent of the testis cranially as well as caudally during diagnostic laparoscopy, to avoid missing this rare anatomical variant.

Keywords

laparoscopy - intra-abdominal testis - embryological descent

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