Is surgical exploration necessary in bilateral anorchia?

Objective: To review the current management of boys with bilateral anorchia and assess whether surgical exploration is necessary when endocrine investigation indicates absent testicular function.

Patients And Methods: The medical records of 11 boys being managed for bilateral anorchia were reviewed in relation to clinical presentation, pituitary-gonadal function, surgical and histological findings.

Results: All boys had absence of testicular function based on undetectable levels of serum anti-Müllerian hormone, elevated basal or peak follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone levels and no testosterone response to human chorionic gonadotrophin stimulation.