Morphotypic aspects in the cryptorchidic child.

The morphotype of 40 children with cryptorchidism (18 bilateral, 22 unilateral), selected by complex endocrine examination, was assessed in relation to age and clinical form of cryptorchidism. The morphotype was established on the basis of 9 anthropometric parameters (weight, stature, pube-ground distance, a-a, thr-thr, thoracic, abdominal, hips and cephalic circumferences). The malformed lot consists of 28 children with common and 12 with symptome cryptorchidism (5 adiposogenital, 3 male Turner's syndrome and 3 with gonadal dysgenesis). In the child with symptom cryptorchidism, the morphogram reveals, irrespective of age, a morphotype which corresponds in point of absolute dimensions and proportions, to the somatotype in which cryptorchidism as a symptome is included. The child with common cryptorchidism has irrespective of age, a normal or short stature and is underweight. Compared to the stature, the head is small, the lower limbs are short, the trunk is long and the hips are well developed. In our series of common cryptorchid child, the most marked statural deficit was found between 11 and 15 years as well as under the age of 6.