Age at diagnosis of undescended testis and associated factors in pediatric patients in a tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND: Undescended testis (UDT) is the most common congenital anomaly of the urogenital system in boys and is associated with long-term risks, including infertility in bilateral cases of UDT and testicular malignancy if not corrected promptly. International guidelines recommend referral by 6 months and surgical correction before 18 months of age. However, delays in diagnosis and management remain frequent worldwide. This study aimed to determine the age at diagnosis of UDT and to identify sociodemographic and perinatal factors associated with delayed diagnosis in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 70 patients with UDT who presented to the tertiary Children's hospital in one year were enrolled. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire completed by mothers, covering demographic, perinatal, and maternal variables. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis of UDT was 29 months, with nearly half of the cases identified at birth or during the neonatal period. Despite early recognition in many patients, a significant proportion were diagnosed later than recommended. Among the studied variables, higher maternal age was significantly associated with delayed diagnosis, whereas maternal education, birth order, prematurity, and place of residence showed no significant correlation. CONCLUSION: Although many children with UDT in our study were diagnosed early, delays beyond the recommended age for intervention remain common. Maternal age emerged as a significant predictor of delayed diagnosis, underscoring the need for targeted parental education and systematic screening during infancy.