Paediatric surgery: impalpable undescended testis: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Paediatric surgery: impalpable undescended testis

Sample item

A 9-month-old has a unilateral impalpable testis on repeated examination. What is the best next step?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Diagnostic laparoscopy, with orchidopexy or orchidectomy as found

Laparoscopy is both diagnostic and therapeutic for impalpable testes, identifying intra-abdominal testes, blind-ending vessels (vanishing testis) or inguinal remnants. Fowler-Stephens approaches are used for high intra-abdominal testes. Surgery is done at 6 to 12 months.

Option by option

  • A. Ultrasound and observation until puberty

    Waiting increases risk of germ cell damage.

  • B. Hormone therapy only

    Hormonal therapy is not recommended.

  • C. Diagnostic laparoscopy, with orchidopexy or orchidectomy as found (correct)

    Correct. Laparoscopy locates and treats the testis.

  • D. Reassurance

    Persisting non-palpation needs surgery.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Diagnostic laparoscopy, with orchidopexy or orchidectomy as found. Laparoscopy is both diagnostic and therapeutic for impalpable testes, identifying intra-abdominal testes, blind-ending vessels (vanishing testis) or inguinal remnants.

Why is "Ultrasound and observation until puberty" not the answer?

Waiting increases risk of germ cell damage.

Why is "Hormone therapy only" not the answer?

Hormonal therapy is not recommended.

Why is "Reassurance" not the answer?

Persisting non-palpation needs surgery.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: impalpable undescended testis in General Surgery. Fowler-Stephens approaches are used for high intra-abdominal testes. Surgery is done at 6 to 12 months.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Paediatric surgery: impalpable undescended testis?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.