PERSISTENT MULLERIAN DUCT SYNDROME WITH TRANSVERSE TESTICULAR ECTOPIA - AN EXPERIMENT OF NATURE WITH CLUES FOR UNDERSTANDING TESTICULAR DESCENT

Abstract

A patient with the combined anomalies of persistent müllerian ducts and testicular ectopia presented with a right inguinal hernia. He represents the 14th case to be documented outside Japan. A review of the literature on persistent müllerian duct syndrome has permitted a new classification of the anatomical variants to be determined. It is proposed that the testes have prolapsed into the hernial sac rather than descending in the normal way. Furthermore, the high frequency of transverse ectopia in patients with persistent müllerian ducts may be caused by the absence of round ligaments to immobilize the genital tract. © 1987 Springer-Verlag.