Systemic paediatrics: undescended testis: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Systemic paediatrics: undescended testis

Sample item

A 12-month-old boy has a left testis that is impalpable in the scrotum and cannot be milked down from the inguinal canal. It was not in the scrotum at birth and has not descended since. What is the best management?

AOrchidopexyBOrchidectomyCObservation until pubertyDTestosterone injections

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Orchidopexy

A testis that has not descended by about 6 months is unlikely to do so and needs surgical orchidopexy, ideally in the first 1 to 2 years. This protects fertility and allows examination for malignancy. Hormonal therapy is not reliable.

Option by option

A. Orchidopexy (correct)
Correct. Orchidopexy is the treatment of a persistently undescended testis.
B. Orchidectomy
Removal is reserved for dysplastic or atrophic testes found at surgery, or in post-pubertal boys.
C. Observation until puberty
Waiting until puberty exposes the testis to damage and raises cancer and infertility risk.
D. Testosterone injections
Testosterone is not an accepted treatment, and hCG gives poor results.

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.

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Orchidopexy. A testis that has not descended by about 6 months is unlikely to do so and needs surgical orchidopexy, ideally in the first 1 to 2 years.

Why is "Orchidectomy" not the answer?

Removal is reserved for dysplastic or atrophic testes found at surgery, or in post-pubertal boys.

Why is "Observation until puberty" not the answer?

Waiting until puberty exposes the testis to damage and raises cancer and infertility risk.

Why is "Testosterone injections" not the answer?

Testosterone is not an accepted treatment, and hCG gives poor results.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic paediatrics: undescended testis in Pediatrics. This protects fertility and allows examination for malignancy. Hormonal therapy is not reliable.

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 Systemic paediatrics: undescended testis?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.