fail to descend into the scrotum. In full term male neonates, the incidence of cryptorchidism is 3 to 4 %. However, this condition is much more frequently encountered in premature male babies. In majority of cases of cryptorchidism the testes descend into the scrotum within 3 to 5 months after birth. However, in a very small number of cases (less than 1 %) one or both testes fail to reach the scrotum. The undescended testes may remain in the abdomen but more commonly they are present in the inguinal canal. In most of the cases, the undescended testes can be brought into the scrotum by surgical intervention. Early treatment of the cryptorchidism is necessary because if
the testes are allowed to remain in an abnormal location for a long period, they show histological abnormalities and normal spermatogenesis is not possible. Also, an abnormally located testis is more likely to develop malignant tumors than the normal testis.