The prevalence of high insertion of scrotum, hydrocele and mobile testis in the newborn infant (36-42 weeks gestation)

Eur J Pediatr. 1989 Apr;148(6):563-4. doi: 10.1007/BF00441559.

Abstract

The prevalence of some minor abnormalities of the male genitalia was studied in 271 boys born over a period of 2 months. The scrotal insertion on the ventral side of the penis was determined in an objective manner by measuring the ratio of the ventral and dorsal length of the unstretched penis. A scrotal insertion ratio of less than 0.48 defined high insertion of the scrotum which was found in 2.7% of our newborn infants. This anatomical finding has an important clinical significance for the performance of early circumcision. The prevalence of hydrocele in all male newborn infants was 57.9%. Extravaginal (communicating) type was present in 86% of all infants, intravaginal (noncommunicating) in 9.5%, while both types of hydrocele in the same neonate was observed in 4.5%. The relatively high frequency of mobile testes (22%) is of interest. The natural history of this entity is not fully understood and the question of follow-up remains open.

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry
  • Circumcision, Male
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Genitalia, Male / abnormalities*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Testicular Hydrocele / congenital
  • Testicular Hydrocele / epidemiology*