Evaluation of the scrotal thermal environment and the testicular sizes in prepubertal hemiscrotal agenesis without cryptorchidism

Abstract

Introduction: Hemiscrotal agenesis is a rare scrotal developmental disorder. Orchiopexy on the opposite side of the scrotum with rugae or scrotoplasty combined with orchiopexy is usually performed as a surgical treatment for hemiscrotal agenesis with cryptorchidism. Till date, there are only eight published case studies of hemiscrotal agenesis.

Case presentation: A 6-year-old boy, who had been previously treated for infantile hemangiomas, was referred by a pediatrician to our hospital for the follow-up of hemiscrotal agenesis without cryptorchidism. Thermography demonstrated that the temperature of the right scrotal skin with no rugae was higher than that of the left scrotal skin with rugae. The patient's parent declined scrotoplasty because the hemiscrotal agenesis was to be followed up without scrotoplasty and scrotal ultrasonography revealed no abnormal findings in both testes.

Conclusion: High-temperature environment may not impair the testicular growth in prepubertal hemiscrotal agenesis without cryptorchidism.

Keywords: PELVIS syndrome; hemiscrotal agenesis; thermal environment; thermography; ultrasonography.