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Synonyms

Supernumerary testes

Definition and Characteristics

Polyorchidism is defined as the presence of two or more testes. Most patients are asymptomatic and present with a painless extra testicular mass during infancy or adolescence. Approximately 75% of the supernumerary testes are intrascrotal, 20% inguinal, and 5% intra-abdominal [1]. Triorchidism is the most common type of polyorchidism, but patients with five testes have been reported [1]. The supernumerary testis is usually superior to the ipsilateral testis and the size is smaller than the ipsilateral or contralateral testis (Fig. 1) [2].

Polyorchidism. Figure 1
figure 1_3331

Polyorchidism. Surgical exploration showed two testes on the left side. A single right testis was noted.

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References

  1. Leung AK (1988) Am Fam Physician 38:153–156

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  2. Leung AK, Wong AL (2001) Consultant 41:789–794

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  3. Amodio JB, Maybody M, Slowotsky C et al. (2004) J Ultrasound Med 23:951–957

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  4. Leung AK, Wong AL, Kao CP (2003) South Med J 96:809–810

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  5. Lawrentschuk N, MacGregor RJ (2004) ANZ J Surg 74:1130–1132

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg

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Leung, A.K.C. (2009). Polyorchidism. In: Lang, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_3331

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