Barriers to implementation of guidelines for the diagnosis and management of undescended testis

Abstract

Cryptorchidism or undescended testis (UDT) is one of the most common genital disorders identified at birth. The gold standard for treatment in the US is to surgically bring the UDT into the scrotal sac. In 2014, the American Urologic Association (AUA) presented a guideline for evaluation and treatment of cryptorchidism. We reviewed some of the most recent domestic and international studies examining the results of implementing the AUA and similar guidelines for the diagnosis and management of UDT. In addition, we reviewed some of the more common barriers to the implementation of the AUA guidelines and offered recommendations on how to increase the rate of early detection of UDT, thereby increasing the rate of surgical correction at the appropriate age.