Intra-abdominal torsion of a non-neoplastic cryptorchid testis in an adult dog

ABSTRACT: Intra-abdominal or intrascrotal testicular torsion in dogs occurs due to spermatic cord rotation. Dogs with testicular torsion commonly present severe pain and require surgical intervention. Torsion of intra-abdominal retained testicles in cryptorchid adult dogs is often associated with the presence of testicular neoplasia. Herein, we reported the case of a 5-year-old male poodle with uncommon intra-abdominal testicular torsion (ITT) of a non-neoplastic testicle. The dog was referred to the veterinary hospital with acute abdominal pain in the hypogastric region. An intra-abdominal gonad and alterations compatible with testicular torsion were visualized during ultrasound examination. Orchiectomy and histopathological analysis of the testes confirmed the diagnosis of ITT in the absence of neoplasia. The patient recovered uneventfully from the situation. This report showed that ITT can occur in adult dogs in the absence of testicular neoplasia and reinforce the message that it should be included as a differential diagnosis in cases of acute abdominal pain in cryptorchid dogs. Furthermore, the ultrasound examination in this case of pain in the hypogastric region was decisive for the diagnosis of ITT.

Cryptorchidism is frequently associated with testicular neoplasia, such as Sertoli cell tumors and seminoma, in dogs of all ages (PEARSON & KELLY, 1975;QUARTUCCIO et al., 2012;KHAN et al., 2018;SANTOS & ALESSI, 2010;HAYES JÚNIOR et al., 1985).The presence of testicular neoplasia results in the progressive gonadal enlargement, which increases the possibility of torsion (PEARSON & KELLY, 1975;HAYES JÚNIOR et al., 1985).In cryptorchid adult dogs, torsion of the testis in the absence of neoplasia has occasionally been reported (HECHT et al., 2004;CRHA et al., 2015;CARR et al., 2015).This report described an uncommon case of intra-abdominal testicular torsion (ITT) of a non-neoplastic testicle in a dog presenting acute abdominal pain in the hypogastric region.
A 5-year-old male poodle (weight: 2.8 kg) was presented to the veterinary hospital with acute ABSTRACT: Intra-abdominal or intrascrotal testicular torsion in dogs occurs due to spermatic cord rotation.Dogs with testicular torsion commonly present severe pain and require surgical intervention.Torsion of intra-abdominal retained testicles in cryptorchid adult dogs is often associated with the presence of testicular neoplasia.Herein, we reported the case of a 5-year-old male poodle with uncommon intraabdominal testicular torsion (ITT) of a non-neoplastic testicle.The dog was referred to the veterinary hospital with acute abdominal pain in the hypogastric region.An intra-abdominal gonad and alterations compatible with testicular torsion were visualized during ultrasound examination.Orchiectomy and histopathological analysis of the testes confirmed the diagnosis of ITT in the absence of neoplasia.The patient recovered uneventfully from the situation.This report showed that ITT can occur in adult dogs in the absence of testicular neoplasia and reinforce the message that it should be included as a differential diagnosis in cases of acute abdominal pain in cryptorchid dogs.Furthermore, the ultrasound examination in this case of pain in the hypogastric region was decisive for the diagnosis of ITT.Key words: acute abdomen, cryptorchidism, ultrasound exam, surgery.

CLINIC AND SURGERY
Ciência Rural, v.53, n.8, 2023.The abdominal ultrasound examination revealed an oval structure (5 × 3 × 2 cm) with a mixed echotexture and a central hyperechoic line in the right caudal abdominal quadrant, compatible with a testicle (Figure 1A and 1B).The patient presented with severe pain during the ultrasound examination, particularly during the intra-abdominal testicle evaluation, for which it was administered tramadol hydrochloride 3 mg/kg) intravenous (IV) and replacement fluid therapy (Ringer's lactate solution, 3mL.kg/h).Ultrasound findings associated with severe pain were suggestive of ITT.Ultrasound examination also revealed the presence of gallstones and splenic lesions.The hemogram and serum biochemistry values are shown in table 1. Hemogram showed mild neutrophilia, moderate eosinophilia, and moderate monocytosis.Moreover, serum biochemical analysis showed a marked increase in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (220 UI/L) and alkaline phosphatase (218 UI/L).
A median laparotomy was performed for intra-abdominal orchiectomy.During surgery, the testicle was localized in the right caudal abdominal quadrant and removed.The testicle presented edema and congestion.The abdominal cavity was inspected during the surgery, and gallstones were removed (cholecystectomy).Splenectomy was also performed to avoid complications.The histopathology report mentioned that the microscopic sections of the testis showed ischemia, severe diffuse hemorrhage with moderate neutrophilic inflammation suggestive of torsion, and parenchyma with normal architecture, without evidence of neoplasia (Figure 1C).It confirmed the clinical diagnoses of ITT in the absence of neoplasia as well as splenic scar nodules.
The dog was hospitalized for 3 days.During the first 2days, no postoperative pain was detected, and the patient was maintained on fluid therapy (2mL.kg/h) with Ringer's lactate.Treatment with cephalothin (30 mg/kg, IV) TID; Omeprazole (1 mg/kg, IV), SID; Meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg, SC), SID; Methadone (0.3 mg/ kg, IM) TID was also implemented.On the 3day postsurgery, the patient was discharged with a prescription for oral cephalexin (30 mg/kg, PO) BID.Ten days after surgery, the patient returned for evaluation and presented a satisfactory clinical progress.Physical examination failed to reveal any abnormalities on abdominal palpation.
Testicular cord torsion of a non-neoplastic testicle is uncommon in adult cryptorchid dogs.
Generally, the prevalence of testicular torsion in adult cryptorchid dogs is frequently associated with testicular neoplasia (QUARTUCCIO et al., 2012;PEARSON & KELLY, 1975;KHAN et al., 2018).Progressive enlargement of the gonad due to the presence of neoplasia predisposes the gonad to testicular rotation (PEARSON & KELLY, 1975;HAYES JÚNIOR et al., 1985).ITT of a non-neoplastic testicle has only been reported in cryptorchid puppy dogs (HECHT et al., 2004;CARR et al., 2015).It is likely that the gubernaculum laxity of the testis retained in the abdominal cavity predisposes testicular rotation (BOOTHE, 2003;GRADIL et al., 2006).This report described the clinical conduct, ultrasound and histopathological findings, and surgical treatment of a case of ITT of a non-neoplastic testicle.
The enlargement of a retained testicle and the presence of mixed echogenicity are the predominant findings of acute testicular torsion with or without neoplasia (HRICACK et al., 1983;PALTIEL et al., 2002;QUARTUCCIO et al., 2012;CARR et al., 2015).However, the ultrasound examination did not disregard the presence of testicular neoplasia (HRICACK et al., 1983;HECHT et al., 2003).The absence of testicular neoplastic characteristics in the histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of ITT of a non-neoplastic testicle (VERONESI et al., 2009;AGNEW & MACLACHLAN, 2017).Median laparotomy enables the visualization and removal of the altered testicle (QUARTUCCIO et al., 2012;CRIVELLENTI et al., 2013), along whit performing splenectomy (FOSSUM et al., 2021) and cholecystectomy (AGUIRRE et al., 2007).The marked increase in alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels may be related to the presence of gallstones, which is a determinant of cholecystectomy performance (AGUIRRE et al., 2007;NELSON & COUTO, 2010).Splenic scars and cholelithiasis generally do not cause pain, and if existing it would result in pain in the mesogastric region not in the hypogastric region (CENTER, 2009;NELSON & COUTO, 2010;NYLAND et al., 2004).Consequently, meticulous abdominal palpation was used to determine the focus of pain and increased ITT diagnoses (DYE, 2003;ABDELLATIF et al., 2017).
This report showed that intra-abdominal torsion of a non-neoplastic testicle can occur in cryptorchid adult dogs and, consequently cause severe abdominal pain.The acute abdominal pain in the right hypogastric region and the findings of the abdominal ultrasound examination were preponderant for the ITT diagnosis.Therefore, neutering cryptorchid dogs is necessary to avoid complications such as testicular torsion and; consequently, severe abdominal pain.Furthermore, this case reinforce that the ITT should be included as a clinical suspicion in cases of acute abdominal pain.
Primaz et al.abdominal pain and a history of neutering performed 3 years before.During physical exam, the patient evidenced intense pain on abdominal palpation of the right hypogastric region, mild dehydration, tachycardia, and tachypnea.The main differential diagnoses were urinary tract diseases, intestinal intussusception, and the existence of bodies.Initially, the neutering history disregarded testicular torsion and complications associated with cryptorchidism.The patient underwent an abdominal ultrasound examination to determine the diagnosis.

Figure 1 -
Figure 1 -Intra-abdominal testicular cord torsion in an adult poodle dog.(A) Sagittal ultrasonographic image of the intra-abdominal right testicle.The testicle appears oval with mixed echotexture.The hyperechoic linear structure (arrow) in the sagittal position represents the mediastinum testicle.(B) Sagittal ultrasonography image of the right testicle.A portion of the swollen spermatic cord is visualized (arrows).(C) Microscopic section of the twisted testicle with severe diffuse hemorrhage (Hematoxylin and eosin, 10X; H-E).

Table 1 -
Hematology and serum biochemistry of an adult dog with intra-abdominal torsion of a nonneoplastic cryptorchid testis.