Appendix testis and appendix epididymis

Abstract

Testicular appendages represent remnants of embryonic structures. The more important are appendix testis (AT) and appendix epididymis (AE). We searched for the presence of an AT or AE in 103 consecutive inguinal hernia and 39 cryptorchidism operations performed at our department during the last 2 years and found 114 ATs (80.28%) and 52 AEs (36.31%). In 24 cases (16.9%) we found both appendages. The ages of our patients ranged from 2 months to 14 years. The diameter of the appendages was 0.3–1.7 cm. Histologically, ATs and AEs consisted of relatively vascular fibrous connective tissue. The surface epithelium was cuboidal in 77 cases, flat in 27, stratified-ciliated in 21, and cuboidal-ciliated in 19. ATs and AEs are penduculated structures and consequently subject to torsion, which is the commonest cause of testicular swelling in childhood and is accompanied by severe pain. To avoid this possibility, we suggest excision of these appendages in every operation for inguinal hernia and cryptorchidism.