Testicular ischaemic necrosis as a cause of equine cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is a fairly common pathology presented to equine surgical facilities with the cryptorchid testicle most commonly located in the abdomen or ipsilateral inguinal canal. The causes of cryptorchidism are not known, but testicular abnormalities have been suggested. Monorchidism as a cause of maldescent of one or both testicles is rare and is hypothesised to be the result of a vascular insult, similar to testicular regression in man. This case report details laparoscopic abdominal exploration of a cryptorchid horse and identification of an abnormal testicular remnant affected by ischaemic necrosis.