Paediatric surgery: retractile 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: retractile testis

Sample item

A 4-year-old boy has testes not seen in the scrotum when he is cold and anxious, but in a warm room they are easily brought down and stay there without tension. What is the best management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Reassurance with periodic review

A retractile testis is a normal variant caused by an active cremasteric reflex. It can be manipulated into the scrotum and stays there, so no operation is needed. Yearly review is advised since a small number later ascend and become undescended.

Option by option

  • A. Human chorionic gonadotrophin therapy

    Hormonal therapy is not indicated for a normally positioned, retractile testis.

  • B. Reassurance with periodic review (correct)

    Correct. A retractile testis is normal and needs observation, as a few later ascend.

  • C. Immediate bilateral orchidopexy

    Orchidopexy is unnecessary for testes that sit in the scrotum without tension.

  • D. Laparoscopic exploration

    Laparoscopy is used for impalpable testes, which these are not.

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 B, Reassurance with periodic review. A retractile testis is a normal variant caused by an active cremasteric reflex.

Why is "Human chorionic gonadotrophin therapy" not the answer?

Hormonal therapy is not indicated for a normally positioned, retractile testis.

Why is "Immediate bilateral orchidopexy" not the answer?

Orchidopexy is unnecessary for testes that sit in the scrotum without tension.

Why is "Laparoscopic exploration" not the answer?

Laparoscopy is used for impalpable testes, which these are not.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: retractile testis in General Surgery. It can be manipulated into the scrotum and stays there, so no operation is needed. Yearly review is advised since a small number later ascend and become undescended.

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: retractile 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.