LAUSR

BACKGROUND In otherwise normal boys with undescended testes, early orchidopexy is recommended to preserve fertility, to decrease the risk of testicular cancer and to facilitate its detection. Indeed, compared to the general population, the risk of testicular cancer is increased two to eight-fold in isolated cryptorchidism and usually occurs before the age of 40 years. By contrast, when cryptorchidism is associated with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, the risk of testicular cancer is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the characteristics of testicular cancer when cryptorchidism is associated with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. METHODS PUBMED research without date limits including the following key words: hypogonadism, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, testicular cancer, testicular germ cell tumors, undescended testis, Kallmann syndrome, FSH, AFP (α foeto protein), βHCG. RESULTS Only three patients with testicular cancer and congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism have been published in the past four decades and cancer was diagnosed at 18.6, 50 and 64 years. CONCLUSION Gonadotropin deficiency may protect against testicular cancer and orchidopexy in this context may be deferred.