Complications of untreated cryptorchidism include which of the following?

Complications of untreated cryptorchidism include which of the following?

• A. Testicular cancer
• B. Hypertension
• C. Kidney stones
• D. Asthma

Answer: (A)

Untreated cryptorchidism increases the risk of developing testicular cancer later in life. The undescended testis is exposed to a higher-than-normal temperature, which disrupts normal germ cell development and can lead to malignant transformation, most commonly germ cell tumors such as seminomas. This cancer risk persists even after surgical correction, though early treatment may reduce overall risk compared with leaving the testis undescended. The other options—hypertension, kidney stones, and asthma—are not direct complications of an undescended testis, so they don’t fit the typical complication pattern of this condition.

Untreated cryptorchidism increases the risk of developing testicular cancer later in life. The undescended testis is exposed to a higher-than-normal temperature, which disrupts normal germ cell development and can lead to malignant transformation, most commonly germ cell tumors such as seminomas. This cancer risk persists even after surgical correction, though early treatment may reduce overall risk compared with leaving the testis undescended. The other options—hypertension, kidney stones, and asthma—are not direct complications of an undescended testis, so they don’t fit the typical complication pattern of this condition.